FactoryTalk AssetCentre Getting

Results Guide
Version 15.00.00

Getting Results Original Instructions

Important User Information
Read this document and the documents listed in the additional resources section about installation, configuration, and operation of this equipment before you install, configure,
operate, or maintain this product. Users are required to familiarize themselves with installation and wiring instructions in addition to requirements of all applicable codes, laws, and
standards.

Activities including installation, adjustments, putting into service, use, assembly, disassembly, and maintenance are required to be carried out by suitably trained personnel in
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In no event will Rockwell Automation, Inc. be responsible or liable for indirect or consequential damages resulting from the use or application of this equipment.

The examples and diagrams in this manual are included solely for illustrative purposes. Because of the many variables and requirements associated with any particular installation,
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Contents

Introduction to FactoryTalk AssetCentre..................................................................................................................................................................................................................9

Activation....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

About the documentation set.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

FactoryTalk AssetCentre Help........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10

About this book...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Contact Technical Support........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client........................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Run the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................13

Elements of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client window.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Asset view.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Asset......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Design mode........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14

Asset catalog..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15

About asset types.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16

Workspace pane.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20

Toolbar................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Menu bar............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Status bar..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Right-click menus............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................22

FactoryTalk AssetCentre system architecture....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23

About FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25

Access FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Quick Start 1: Configure the system....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Quick Start steps for configuring the system...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Step 1: Add users to the FactoryTalk Directory......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27

Step 2: Add client computers........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................29

Step 3: Configure security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre..........................................................................................................................................................................................................30

Policy settings and their meanings...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................30

Step 4: Add contacts to the Address Book.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................33

Step 5: Set up FactoryTalk AssetCentre database limitations................................................................................................................................................................................................34

Step 6: Configure the TLS protocol..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................35

Create a self-signed certificate using Windows PowerShell........................................................................................................................................................................................ 36

Export the created certificate for FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, desktop client, web client, and agent computers.....................................................................................36

Configure a site binding......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................38

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 Turn on secure communication between the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, desktop clients, web clients, and agents............................................................................... 40

Import the self-signed certificate to FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client, web client, and agent computers..............................................................................................41

Configure a firewall rule and web services URL if the default port is modified...................................................................................................................................................... 45

Step 7: Configure Windows Authentication.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................47

Turn on Windows Authentication mode in Internet Information Services (IIS).........................................................................................................................................................48

Quick Start 2: Design the asset tree.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................51

Quick Start steps for designing the asset tree.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 51

Step 1: Plan the organization of your asset tree....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 51

Step 2: Add assets to the asset tree...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................53

Use Asset Inventory to add assets to the asset tree.....................................................................................................................................................................................................54

Step 3: Change security settings for an asset.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 57

Quick Start 3: Set up Disaster Recovery schedules...............................................................................................................................................................................................59

Quick Start steps for setting up schedules..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................60

Step 1: Set up Agent Groups and agent computers in them...................................................................................................................................................................................................60

Create an agent group.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................60

Create an agent computer...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................61

Step 2: Create a schedule for the desired Disaster Recovery operation.............................................................................................................................................................................. 61

Step 3: Set up recipient lists for schedule results...................................................................................................................................................................................................................63

Send an End of Schedule report........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................63

Send an operation-specific report.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 63

Step 4: Run schedules....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................64

Run schedules by making them active............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 64

Run schedules manually...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 64

Quick Start 4: View and search logs...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 67

Quick Start steps for viewing and searching logs.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 68

Step 1: View logs..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................68

Step 2: Create a search................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 69

Step 3: Set search security........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 73

Step 4: Run searches......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................74

Make a search active........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 74

Run searches manually........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 74

Step 5: View and print search results.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................74

Quick Start 5: Open and edit files in Archive......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 77

Quick Start steps for managing files in Archive.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 77

Step 1: Set a working folder.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 78

Step 2: Check out a file for editing............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 79

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 Step 3: Check in a file................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 80

Step 4: Get a read-only version of a file....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................82

Step 5: Open a file for viewing.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................84

Step 6: Initiate a Management of Change workflow to check out a file for editing.......................................................................................................................................................... 85

Quick Start 6: Manage Rockwell Automation hardware lifecycle.......................................................................................................................................................................... 89

Quick Start steps for managing Rockwell Automation hardware lifecycle..................................................................................................................................................................................... 89

Step 1: Synchronize lifecycle status............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 89

Step 2: Refresh lifecycle status................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 90

Step 3: View detailed lifecycle status......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 90

Quick Start 7: Work with remote FactoryTalk Directory........................................................................................................................................................................................93

Quick Start steps for running disaster recovery across FactoryTalk Directories......................................................................................................................................................................... 95

Step 1: Register a remote agent computer................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 95

Step 2: Run a disaster recovery task using a remote agent computer................................................................................................................................................................................96

Quick start steps for forwarding diagnostics to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system...................................................................................................................................................... 97

Forward diagnostic logs to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system................................................................................................................................................................................ 97

Troubleshoot............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................101

Troubleshoot the FactoryTalk AssetCentre client............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101

If the client fails to start.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 101

If the client cannot communicate with the server................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 102

If you cannot enter Design Mode................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................103

If you cannot connect to Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus devices..........................................................................................................................................................................................103

If you cannot connect to Allen-Bradley MobileView devices................................................................................................................................................................................................. 103

Troubleshoot Schedules.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 103

If a schedule did not run............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 103

If a schedule no longer appears on the Schedules tab......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 104

If an asset is missing from a schedule.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................104

My schedule contains extra devices that I don't want in the schedule.............................................................................................................................................................................. 104

If you are prompted to install agents when creating a Disaster Recovery schedule....................................................................................................................................................... 105

If you see the message "Failed to create RSLogix 5 [or 500] data [or program ladder] file list"..................................................................................................................................105

If the scheduled Disaster Recovery operation never completes..........................................................................................................................................................................................105

Troubleshoot email notifications...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................106

If email notifications do not reach their recipients............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 106

Troubleshoot Logs.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 106

If you cannot view a log...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................106

If no data appears in a log..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................107

If you cannot refresh a log.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 107

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 If you cannot show a previously viewed log............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 107

Troubleshoot Archive................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................107

If you cannot check in a file....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 107

If you cannot open a file..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................107

If the wrong program opens a file.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................108

If a button is not available.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 108

If you performed a recursive checkout and the subfolders didn't copy.............................................................................................................................................................................108

Troubleshoot remote FactoryTalk Directory operations................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 108

If the agent cannot connect to the server...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................108

The server and agent are in different network domains............................................................................................................................................................................................108

The server and agent are in separate VLANs across different domain controllers ............................................................................................................................................... 109

Missing or wrong policy configuration............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 109

FactoryTalk AssetCentre server switch or FactoryTalk Directory switch................................................................................................................................................................. 109

The remote agent cannot go online..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................111

If the remote agent computer registration fails due to duplicate computer names......................................................................................................................................................... 111

If the disaster recovery schedules fail due to mismatched asset properties.....................................................................................................................................................................111

Unsupported scenarios of cross-FactoryTalk Directory..........................................................................................................................................................................................................112

Troubleshoot database encryption key.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................113

If scheduled disaster recovery tasks fail after the database encryption key is changed................................................................................................................................................114

Recover the previously encrypted data using the old passphrase ............................................................................................................................................................................114

Update the previously encrypted data in the database............................................................................................................................................................................................... 115

Update the Allen-Bradley E300 Overload Relay asset property.........................................................................................................................................................................116

Update the FactoryTalk Directory asset property............................................................................................................................................................................................... 116

Update the FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset property..................................................................................................................................................................................117

Update the FANUC Robot asset property...............................................................................................................................................................................................................117

Update the Generic FTP Device asset property................................................................................................................................................................................................... 117

Update the Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works2) asset property...........................................................................................................................................................................118

Update the Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works3) asset property...........................................................................................................................................................................118

Update the Schneider Controller (Control Expert) asset property.................................................................................................................................................................... 118

Update the Motoman Robot asset property..........................................................................................................................................................................................................119

Update the Remote Computer asset property......................................................................................................................................................................................................119

Update the Siemens S7 Controller (TIA Portal) asset property..........................................................................................................................................................................119

Update the Allen-Bradley Stratix Switch asset property.................................................................................................................................................................................... 119

Update the ABB Robot asset property.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 120

Update the Asset Inventory asset property......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 120

If you receive an unmatched key error in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Data Source Configuration Wizard................................................................................................................120

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Working with Archive Management of Change website........................................................................................................................................................................................123

User configuration....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................123

Create a user.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 123

Edit a user....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 125

View user logs.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................125

Delete a user................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 127

Change request rules configuration for workflows............................................................................................................................................................................................................................127

Create a rule for a workflow........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................127

Step 1: Configure conditions for the check-in or check-out workflow..................................................................................................................................................................... 128

Step 2: Configure notifications ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................129

Edit a workflow...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................130

Delete a workflow........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 131

Change request rules configuration for checklists........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 132

Create a checklist.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 132

Edit a checklist...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................134

Delete a step or checklist............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 134

Legal Notices.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 137

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 Chapter 1

Introduction to FactoryTalk AssetCentre

FactoryTalk® AssetCentre monitors your factory automation system, provides centralized tools to minimize downtime
due to unauthorized actions or failing devices, and manages the lifecycle of Rockwell Automation hardware devices in
the system. It does this by:

• securing access to actions within the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system. For information about security, see
Quick Start 1: Configure the system on page 27.
• managing device configuration files. For more information about configuration files, see Quick Start 2: Design
the asset tree on page 51.
• providing a disaster recovery system that verifies your devices' program and configuration files against
protected master files, ensuring quick and accurate recovery if a problem should occur. For information
about Disaster Recovery, see Quick Start 3: Set up Disaster Recovery schedules on page 59.
• monitoring FactoryTalk-enabled software products and logging system events and user actions (recorded in
the Event log and Audit log respectively). For information about logs, see Quick Start 4: View and search logs
on page 67.
• providing version control and archiving of program files and documents. For information about Archive, see
Quick Start 5: Open and edit files in Archive on page 77.
• synchronizing lifecycle information in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and client with the data on the
Rockwell Automation lifecycle website. For information about lifecycle management, see Quick Start 6:
Manage Rockwell Automation hardware lifecycle on page 89.
• enabling disaster recovery and diagnostic forwarding across FactoryTalk Directories. For information about
cross-FactoryTalk Directory operations, see Quick Start 7: Work with remote FactoryTalk Directory on page
93.

Activation
FactoryTalk AssetCentre software is activated on two criteria:

• capacity (number of devices)

• capability (purchased functionality)

In addition, the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server must be activated. For more information on activation, refer to the
Activation in FactoryTalk AssetCentre topic of Help.

About the documentation set

The documentation set includes:

• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide (Document ID FTAC-IN005). Use this manual to install the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre system. This manual is also available in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre installation
package in 15.00.00-FTAssetCentre\Docs. The file name is FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.pdf. You
can find it in Rockwell Automation Literature Library.
• Help. Use the comprehensive Help for assistance while using the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system.

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Chapter 1 Introduction to FactoryTalk AssetCentre

• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Getting Results Guide (Document ID FTAC-GR002). Use this manual to get started
with the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system. You can find it in Rockwell Automation Literature Library.
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Utilities User Manual (Document ID FTAC-UM001). Use this manual for assistance
while using an array of utilities whose capabilities are not present in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system. You
can find it in Rockwell Automation Literature Library.

This manual is intended to give a general overview of the software. For more detailed information, please refer to
FactoryTalk AssetCentre Help.

FactoryTalk AssetCentre Help

FactoryTalk AssetCentre Help is available from the Help menu, by pressing F1 or clicking the Show Help button, or by
clicking the Help button in any dialog box in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre software.

About this book

This manual provides you with information on how to get started using your FactoryTalk AssetCentre system. It is not
intended to be a comprehensive users guide. For complete information on all features, tasks, and interface elements,
refer to Help.

This book is written for FactoryTalk AssetCentre users. We assume you are familiar with:

• Microsoft® Windows® operating systems including basic Windows networking and administration tasks
• RSLinx® Classic and FactoryTalk® Linx communication software
• Rockwell Automation programing tools for programmable logic controllers
• control networks such as DeviceNet and programmable logic controllers such as ControlLogix® processors

Contact Technical Support

If you cannot find answers to your questions in this manual, Help, or on the Technical Support Web site, call Technical
Support.

• Phone—440-646-3434 in the USA

• Technical Support hours of operation—8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

If you are not located in the USA and want to contact Rockwell Automation Support by telephone, go to https://
www.rockwellautomation.com/global/support/overview.page, choose language as needed, click Local and Contact
Support, click Call us, and then select your region and country for information about contacting your local support
organization.

When you call, you should be at your computer and be prepared to give the following information:

• the product version number

• the type of hardware you are using
• the exact wording of any messages that appeared on your screen
• a description of what happened and what you were doing when the problem occurred
• a description of how you tried to solve the problem

Tip: Select Help > About from the Menu bar to show the product serial number and product
version number.

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 Chapter 1 Introduction to FactoryTalk AssetCentre

For information about all of the products available from Rockwell Automation or for technical support, go to one of
the following sites:

• https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products.html#software
• https://www.rockwellautomation.com/global/support/overview.page
• https://rockwellautomation.custhelp.com

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 Chapter 2

Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

All actions in FactoryTalk AssetCentre take place in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client. Changes you make in the
desktop client window are stored on the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server.

Run the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

To start the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client
• Using Windows Search, find FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client, and then double-click the name.

If the client fails to start properly, see If the client fails to start on page 101.

Elements of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client window

The screen includes the following items:

1. Menu bar
2. Toolbar
3. Asset view
It shows an assets tree that you create to represent your plant.
4. Workspace pane
It shows the information and controls of the tools:
◦ Address Book
◦ Agent Groups
◦ Archive
◦ Assets Lifecycle
◦ Logs
◦ Schedules
◦ Searches
5. Asset catalog

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Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

Available in the design mode, it lists all the types of assets that you can add to the assets tree in the asset
view.
6. Status bar
It shows the following information:
◦ The currently logged on user
◦ The status of the connection to the server
◦ The number of connected agent computers in the system

Asset view
Everything that you do in FactoryTalk AssetCentre begins with an asset. The Asset View shows the asset tree, a
representation of your plant. In the asset tree, you can include all of the assets (anything from a device to a program
to a procedure document) that you want to control, back up, or monitor.

Asset
An asset in FactoryTalk AssetCentre represents items of value in your automation system — things that you want to
control and to which you want to monitor access. Assets can be automation device items and legacy device items
(including controllers, drives, robots, Allen-Bradley® E300 Overload Relay, Asset Inventory, FactoryTalk® Directory,
FactoryTalk® View Site Edition (SE), and more), files (program files or even drawings or word processing files), folders,
or containers of other assets. While FactoryTalk AssetCentre is intended to handle files for automation projects, any
kind of file can become an asset in FactoryTalk AssetCentre.

Design mode
In this mode, you can:

• Set up or modify the asset tree in the Asset View so that it represents your system.
• Add devices to the asset tree from the Asset Catalog or edit devices already in the asset tree. The Asset
Catalog is only shown in Design mode.
• Set up or modify the agent group tree in the Agent Groups plug-in.

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 Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

To enter Design mode, click the Design button in the Asset View. The Design button toggles Design mode on and off.
You can also select Edit > Design Mode on the Menu bar, or press F3. Only one user in your system can be in Design
mode at a time.

Tip: You must have Switch to Design mode permission to enter Design mode. See Step 3: Set Feature
Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

If you have Switch to Design mode permission and still cannot enter Design mode to view the Asset
Catalog, see If you can’t enter Design Mode on page 103.

Asset catalog
The Asset Catalog lists all the types of assets that can be added to the asset tree. The Asset Catalog is only available
when the Asset View is in Design mode. In Design mode, you will use the Asset Catalog to select and add assets by
dragging them from the Asset Catalog to the asset tree. For information about adding assets to the asset tree, see
Step2: Add assets to the asset tree on page 53.

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Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

The Asset Catalog can be positioned either below the Asset View or beside the Asset View.

• To position the Asset Catalog below the Asset View, select View > Layout > Split Horizontally.

• To position the Asset Catalog beside and to the right of the Asset View, select View > Layout > Split
Vertically.

About asset types

Assets fall into these categories:

• Controller Items
• Power Control Items
• Robot Items
• SCADA, EOI and FactoryTalk Items
• FTP and Computer Device Items
• Network Device Items
• Asset Inventory Items
• Files and Folder Items
• Organizational Items
• Custom Device Items
• Legacy Device Items

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 Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

Assets can be placed in the asset tree in the root or in a container. Device assets, except for Generic Device, count
toward capacity activation. Most device assets are used with the Disaster Recovery capability. An asset represents a
physical automation device in the control system.

Controller Items
A controller asset can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• Allen-Bradley Logix 5000 Controller

Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley Logix 5000 Controller, retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to a master version, execute
a source code validation for vulnerability detection, and run a change detect schedule to get a list of changes
from the controller log.
• Allen-Bradley MicroLogix Controller
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley MicroLogix™ Controller or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Allen-Bradley PLC-5 Controller
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley PLC-5® Controller or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Allen-Bradley SLC 500 Controller
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley SLC™ 500 Controller or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works2)
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the
Mitsubishi® Controller (GX Works2™) or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works3)
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the
Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works3™) or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Schneider Controller (Control Expert)
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the
Schneider® Controller (Control Expert) or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Siemens S7 Controller (STEP7)
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Siemens® S7
Controller (STEP7) or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Siemens S7 Controller (TIA Portal)
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Siemens S7
Controller (TIA Portal) or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.

Power Control Items

A power control asset can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• Allen-Bradley E300 Overload Relay

Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley E300 Overload Relay or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Allen-Bradley PowerFlex Drive
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley PowerFlex® Drive or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.

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Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

Robot Items
A robot asset can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• Motoman Robot
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Motoman
Robot or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.

SCADA, EOI and FactoryTalk Items

SCADA, EOI and FactoryTalk Items can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• Allen-Bradley MobileView
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley MobileView™ or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Allen-Bradley PanelView
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley PanelView™ or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley PanelView Plus or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• FactoryTalk Directory
Use this asset type to run a schedule that backs up the FactoryTalk® Directory of your system regularly.
• FactoryTalk View Site Edition
Use this asset type to run a schedule that backs up FactoryTalk® View Site Edition (SE) network applications,
including HMI server, FactoryTalk Directory, FactoryTalk Linx, and FactoryTalk Alarms and Events data.

FTP and Computer Device Items

FTP and Computer Device Items can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• Generic FTP Device

Use this asset type for devices that use FTP, like robots and drives that host an FTP Server, such as FANUC
or ABB robots. The Generic FTP device replaced the vendor-specific robot asset types, Fanuc Robot and ABB
Robot, in version 7.00 and later.
• Remote Computer
Use this asset type with the Disaster Recovery capability to back up and verify the contents of a specified
shared folder on a computer in the system. A binder asset is used to specify which files within the shared
folder should be operated on.

Network Device Items

Network Device Items can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• Allen-Bradley Stratix Switch

Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the Allen-
Bradley Stratix™ Switch or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.

Asset Inventory Items

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 Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

Asset Inventory Items can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• Asset Inventory
Use this asset type to scan physical automation devices on the network. When you run a backup or backup
and compare schedule on an Asset Inventory asset, the Asset Inventory agent service scans the connected
devices and computers on the network and stores unique identification information about hardware,
firmware, and software in the backup data. You can open the backup data in grid view to see the detailed
scanning results of devices and associated software. You can also add the scanned assets to the asset tree
or update assets in the asset tree with different properties.

Files and Folder Items

These types of assets can be placed under any device or container in the asset tree. These asset types do not count
toward asset capacity activation.

• A Binder is a collection of files and folders that is treated as a unit. For example, when you check out a
binder all the contents of the binder are checked out and placed in your working folder.
• A File in the asset tree can be any type of data file, from a device's configuration file, to a text file, to a CAD
drawing.
• A Folder is simply a container in which to place files. You may want to organize files within a folder if you
have many files associated with a component or area of your plant, such as a procedure document, an
inventory spreadsheet, CAD drawings, and so on. Folders can only contain Files, Binders, and Links, not
Devices.
• A Link to a binder or file is similar to a shortcut in Microsoft Windows. It is not a second copy of the file or
binder, but rather a link to an existing file or binder in the asset tree. Including the same file or binder in
several locations in the asset tree would compromise version control for that file or binder. Instead, place a
link to the file or binder in the additional locations.

Organizational Items
An organizational asset can be placed in the root or in another container in the asset tree. These asset types do not
count toward asset capacity activation.

• A Generic Container provides a means of representing a functional area of your plant that is composed of
multiple devices. For example, a wash rack might be comprised of a processor, a robot, valves, flow meters,
and so on. (Valves and flow meters are not included in FactoryTalk AssetCentre. Additional device types will
be added in future releases. For the time being, they could be represented by a Generic Device.)

Tip: While containers and folders both contain assets, they are not interchangeable. Containers
can hold ANY type of asset (including folders). Use a generic container to hold devices and other
associated assets. Folders and asset inventories can ONLY contain files, links, binders, and other
folders.

• A Generic Device enables you to add unsupported devices to the asset tree.

Custom Device Items

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Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

Custom Device Items can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• Custom Device
Use this asset type to perform Disaster Recovery capability for a physical automation device that has no
corresponding asset type in FactoryTalk AssetCentre. When configuring your backup tool and compare tool in
Tools > Options, you can perform Disaster Recovery capability for your device automatically.

Legacy Device Items

Legacy Devices Items can be placed in the root or in a container in the asset tree.

• ABB Robot
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the ABB Robot
or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• FANUC Robot
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the FANUC
Robot or retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.
• RA Drive
Use this asset type to run a schedule to store a backup copy of files that are associated with the RA Drive or
retrieve a copy of those files and compare them to an archive file.

Workspace pane
The Workspace Pane shows the information and controls for the FactoryTalk AssetCentre tools: Archive, Schedules,
Logs, Searches, Agent Groups, and Address Book. After a tool is selected, it appears on a tab in the Workspace Pane:

1. Click a button to show a tool in the Workspace Pane.

Alternatively, you can choose a tool on the View menu.
2. Tabs appear on the Workspace Pane for each tool that is open.
3. Users can get the severity of the logs and take the corresponding actions.

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 Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

Use the Workspace Pane to:

• Set up and run schedules. See Quick Start 3: Set up Disaster Recovery schedules on page 59.
• View and search logs. See Quick Start 4: View and search logs on page 67.
• Manage file versions in Archive. See Quick Start 5: Open and edit files in Archive on page 77.

Toolbar
The following table lists the toolbar buttons of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client and provides a brief
description of each button’s functions:

Button Description

Adds an item such as an asset, schedule, search, or Address Book contact or group,
New
depending on what is selected and has focus in the rest of the window. This button is
unavailable if nothing can be added (for example, if the Asset View has focus, but is not in
Design mode).

Available only when information (such as a schedule or search) has been edited, but not yet
Save
saved.

Available only when viewing a log. Prints either the selected records or all records listed.
Print

Combined with the Paste button, the Cut button moves an asset from one location in the tree
Cut
to another. Select the asset, then click the Cut button. Select the container in which you want
to place the asset, then click the Paste button. The asset that was cut does not disappear
from its original location until it is pasted in the new location.

Combined with the Paste button, the Copy button duplicates an asset in the tree. First select
Copy
the asset and click the Copy button. Next select the container in which you want to place the
asset, then click the Paste button.

Combined with the Cut (or Copy) button, the Paste button moves (or copies) an asset from
Paste
one location in the tree to another. Select the asset, then click the Cut (or Copy) button.
Select the container in which you want to place the asset, then click the Paste button.

Deletes the selected asset (if in Design mode), search, schedule, or Address Book contact
Delete
or group. This button has the same function as the Delete button on the Asset View toolbar,
Search toolbar, and Schedules toolbar.

Opens or shifts focus to the Asset View. This view contains the asset tree that you create to
represent your system. For more information about the asset tree, see Quick Start 2: Design
the asset tree on page 51.

Opens the Agent Groups tab on which you can manage the agents into groups. If the tab is
open, it brings the Agent Groups tab to the front.

Opens or shifts focus to the Archive tab. Archive is FactoryTalk AssetCentre’s source control
tool that you will use to manage file versions. For more information, see Quick Start 5: Open
and edit files in Archive on page 77.

Opens the Assets Lifecycle tab on which you can synchronize lifecycle information in
the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and client with the data on the Rockwell Automation
lifecycle website, or refresh lifecycle information in the AssetCentre client with
the AssetCentre server.

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Chapter 2 Navigate the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client

Button Description

Opens or shifts focus to the Logs tab. This tab allows you to view any of the logs -- the Audit
Log, the Event Log, and the Diagnostics and Health Log. For more information, see Quick Start
4: View and search logs on page 67.

Opens or shifts focus to the Schedules tab where you can set up scheduled operations such
as Backup and Backup and Compare. For more information, see Quick Start 3: Set up Disaster
Recovery schedules on page 59.

Opens or shifts focus to the Searches tab where you can search the logs or the Archive
history. For more information, see Quick Start 4: View and search logs on page 67.

Shows the properties of the selected item: an asset in the Asset View or a contact in the
Properties
Address Book, for example. For an asset, you can only edit the properties if the Asset View is
in Design mode.

Shows the online help related to the part of the software that you are currently using.
Show Help

Menu bar
Any menu can be clicked or opened by holding down the Alt key and pressing the underlined letter in the menu name.
For example, to show the Tools menu, press Alt-t. For information on any menu command, refer to the About the Menu
Bar topic of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Help.

Status bar
The Status Bar at the bottom of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre window shows the currently logged on FactoryTalk user
and the status of the connection to the server. It also shows the number of FactoryTalk AssetCentre agents running in
the system.

If the server status is Disconnected, see If the client cannot communicate with the server on page 102.

Right-click menus
Right-click menus provide access to most functions in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client and are available
throughout the software. For example, right-click in the Asset View, on an asset in the Asset View, or in the Workspace
Pane to see a list of functions particular to that item.

For information on a particular command on a right-click menu, refer to Help and search for the command.

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 Chapter 3

FactoryTalk AssetCentre system architecture

The following graphic shows the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system architecture and the relationship of user
permission, networking, license management, and version control within the architecture.

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 Chapter 4

About FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client

FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client is a web application that provides access to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system
from a web browser. As opposed to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client with full read-and-write functions, the
web client allows you to do the following to monitor your factory automation system:

• View the asset tree and archive workspace.

• Check in and check out files or binders, undo a check-out, unblock a workflow, pin, unpin, label, and promote
files and binders, view and remove labels, and copy a version from backup data to configuration data.
• View, update, refresh, report lifecycle information; view, filter, and sort report.
• View, filter, and sort logs.
• Create, edit, delete, activate or deactivate, run, stop, filter, and sort schedules.
• Run, filter, and sort searches.
• View database information, set database limitations, analyze index fragmentation, and rebuild fragmented
indexes.
• Create a log cleanup schedule.
• Create an archive cleanup schedule.
We recommend that you use the TLS protocol with the FactoryTalk AssetCentre web client. See Step 6: Configure the
TLS protocol on page 35.

Access FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client

You must sign in every time you try to open the web client with a browser.

To sign in to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre web client

1. From the Start menu, select FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client, or open the browser, and then enter the
URL address http://<FQDN>/RockwellSoftware/AssetCentreWebClient.

Tip: FQDN is the fully qualified domain name of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server computer.
If you are changed the default port in site binding, you need to include the self-defined port
number in the computer name part in the form as MYSERVER:PortNumber.

2. On the AssetCentre Web Client page, enter the user name and the password.

IMPORTANT: You can sign in to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre web client using a FactoryTalk
user or Windows-linked user.

3. Select Sign in.

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 Chapter 5

Quick Start 1: Configure the system

After installing the FactoryTalk AssetCentre software, there are several steps that you must perform to start using
the software. The next several chapters of this guide take you through the required steps to get results quickly using
FactoryTalk AssetCentre.

The main tasks necessary to begin using FactoryTalk AssetCentre are:

• Quick Start 1: Configure the system on page 27

• Quick Start 2: Design the asset tree on page 51
• Quick Start 3: Set up Disaster Recovery schedules on page 59
• Quick Start 4: View and search logs on page 67
• Quick Start 5: Open and edit files in Archive on page 77
• Quick Start 6: Manage Rockwell Automation hardware lifecycle on page 89
• Quick Start 7: Work with remote FactoryTalk Directory on page 93

This current chapter will concentrate only on the steps necessary to configure your FactoryTalk AssetCentre system.

Quick Start steps for configuring the system

To configure your FactoryTalk AssetCentre system, you must perform the following steps:

• Step 1: Add users to the FactoryTalk Directory on page 27

• Step 2: Add client computers on page 29
• Step 3: Set feature security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30
• Step 4: Add contacts to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Address Book on page 33
• Step 5: Set up FactoryTalk AssetCentre database limitations on page 34
• Step 6: Configure the SSL protocol on page 35
• Step 7: Configure Windows Authentication on page 47

Step 1: Add users to the FactoryTalk Directory

A user must be able to authenticate with the FactoryTalk Directory in order to be authorized to use FactoryTalk
AssetCentre.

Tip: This section contains only basic instructions for using the FactoryTalk Directory and FactoryTalk®
Security. For background information and information regarding more advanced procedures, see
FactoryTalk Administration Console Help.

When you install FactoryTalk Services Platform on a computer for the first time, the FactoryTalk Directory is
configured to allow accessto all users by default. Any user who is a member of the local Windows Administrators
group or who is authenticated by the Windows operating system has full access to the FactoryTalk system.

Creating user groups before adding users makes managing user access a much easier task. Users added to a group
inherit the security settings of that group.

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The most common best practice is to use Windows-linked user groups from your Windows Active Directory or Azure
AD groups and add them to FactoryTalk user groups. Thus, the recommended configuration of user groups and users
is in this order:
1. Add Windows-linked user groups.
2. Add Azure AD user groups.
3. Add Windows-linked users.
4. Create FactoryTalk users.
5. Create FactoryTalk user groups to hold those groups and users created in step 1 through step 4.

Tip: FactoryTalk user groups cannot be nested.

The reason of doing so is that all the individual user management is done by your IT department. If those user groups
exist in the Windows Active Directory, you don't have to manage individual users in the FactoryTalk system, and
instead you can assign FactoryTalk group membership based on the actual employment role rather than assigning
individual users. Additionally, if a user joins or leaves the company, the user groups are managed on the IT side, and
FactoryTalk user groups automatically hold all the changes.

To add groups and users to the FactoryTalk Directory

1. Start the FactoryTalk Administration Console:
a. Click Start, and then use search to search for FactoryTalk Administration Console.
b. Click FactoryTalk Administration Console.
FactoryTalk Administration Console appears.
2. Sign in to the Network directory using a FactoryTalk Administrator account.
3. Open the Users and Groups folder.
4. Under the Users and Groups folder, right-click the Users folder or the User Groups folder, and then select
New.
5. Determine how you want to add user accounts to the system. For more information, see General
configuration in the FactoryTalk system in SECURE-AT002. To choose the type of user groups or user accounts,
consider the following:
◦ Windows-linked user groups and user accounts
If your system isintegrated with your Windows Active Directoryinfrastructure and you want the
administrative accessto be tied to that Windows Active Directory, use Windows-linked user groups
and accounts. Using Windows-linked user groups and accounts provides a convenient way to add
large numbers of existing Windows user groups and accounts to the FactoryTalk system. However, in
the unlikely event that all the Windows users or groups with administrator permissions are removed
from the system on the IT side, you lose administrative access to the FactoryTalk Directory. If that’s a
concern, a FactoryTalk user can be created as an administrator account.
◦ Azure AD user groups
If your system isintegrated with your Azure AD infrastructure and you want the administrative
accessto be tied to that Azure AD, use Azure AD user groups. Using Azure AD user groups provides a
convenient way to add large numbers of existing Azure AD user groups and accounts to the FactoryTalk
system. However, if the Azure AD group is updated on the Azure side, the FactoryTalk system cannot
automaticallysynchronize the changesto the FactoryTalk Directory. You must add the group to the
FactoryTalk Directory again for it to get the latest Azure AD group information.
◦ FactoryTalk user groups and user accounts

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 Chapter 5 Quick Start 1: Configure the system

FactoryTalk user groups and accounts provide secure access to the FactoryTalk system independently
of the level of access users have in Windows. FactoryTalk Directory user accounts provide the benefits
and convenience of centralized administration within the FactoryTalk system, without needing a
Windows domain. FactoryTalk user groups and accounts also retain their security settings if the
FactoryTalk Directory moves to a new domain. However, the risk is that FactoryTalk user groups and
accounts cannot be managed automatically through the IT system. For example, if a user who has the
only FactoryTalk administrator account is not available anymore,someone else would have to change
the password of that FactoryTalk administrator account. Otherwise, no one will be able to access the
system in the FactoryTalk Directory.
◦ Temporary user accounts
Temporary user accounts allow users to temporarily have the permissions of another user in a different
group, add a FactoryTalk user with a disabled date or a FactoryTalk temporary user. A FactoryTalk
user configured with a disabled date will be automatically disabled in the specified date, whereas a
temporary user requires someone to generate the password and a challenge and response process.
6. Enter the information for the user or group selected.

For more detailed instructions on adding users and grouping users, refer to the FactoryTalk Services Platform Help.

Step 2: Add client computers

Before adding a client computer to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system, install the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop
Client or the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Diagnostics Connector on a computer that meets the system requirements and
is connected to the same network as the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server.

To add a client computer

1. If necessary, close all open Windows programs.
2. From the installation package, double-click Setup.exe.
3. Select AssetCentre Desktop Client or AssetCentre Diagnostics Connector (Optional).
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Tip: For more information about how to install FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client software
and FactoryTalk AssetCentre Diagnostics Connector, see FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation
Guide.

During the installation, the FactoryTalk Services Platform will be installed and the computer will be added to the
FactoryTalk Network Directory. If for some reason the client computer is not in the FactoryTalk Network Directory,
use the FactoryTalk Administration Console to add it. For more information, see Add a computer in FactoryTalk
Administration Console Help.

Tip: If you have a significant number of computers for which you need to permit or restrict access,
consider grouping them in the FactoryTalk Administration Console to make assigning security privileges
easier. For example, you can group all of the computers used in offices away from the plant floor and
restrict access to features that should be used only from computers stationed where the user can see the
automation system directly.

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Chapter 5 Quick Start 1: Configure the system

Step 3: Configure security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre

By default, all users and the Administrators group in FactoryTalk Directory can perform any task in the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre software. To deny specific users the right to perform tasks in FactoryTalk AssetCentre, you must edit the
Feature Security settings in the FactoryTalk Administration Console.

IMPORTANT: Never explicitly deny rights to the All Users or Administrators group in FactoryTalk.
Rather, set up specific user groups of your own and deny rights to those groups. Denying rights
to All Users or Administrators could lock everyone out of the system and would deny rights in all
FactoryTalk-enabled products using any FactoryTalk CPR 9 version.

To configure security settings

1. Start the FactoryTalk Administration Console:
a. Click Start, and then use search to search for FactoryTalk Administration Console.
b. Click FactoryTalk Administration Console.
FactoryTalk Administration Console appears.
2. Log on to the Network directory using a FactoryTalk Administrator account.
3. In the Explorer pane of the FactoryTalk Administration Console, navigate to System > Policies > Product
Policies > FactoryTalk AssetCentre.
4. Double-click Feature Security.

IMPORTANT: There is also a Server Settings object in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre folder.
Do not attempt to change any of the settings in this object. Doing so may render your
FactoryTalk AssetCentre system inoperative. If you need to change server settings (to
use a different mail server, for example), from the Windows Start menu, select Rockwell
Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Settings.

5. In the Feature Security Properties window, click the policy you want to change, and then click the browse
button for the policy.
See Policy settings and their meanings on page 30.
6. In the Configure Securable Action dialog box, select the user or group for whom you want to assign
permissions. If the user or group does not appear in the list, click Add, click Show all, select the user or
group, and then click OK.
7. Click the appropriate box to allow or deny the user permission to the selected feature.
8. Click OK.

Tip: As a default, FactoryTalk AssetCentre uses Microsoft Windows file associations. To specify
which software program will open a specific type of file, set file associations. See Set file
associations in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client Help.

Policy settings and their meanings

The following table shows the policy settings and their functions.

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 Chapter 5 Quick Start 1: Configure the system

This policy setting Controls whether users can

View Address Book View the Address Book (which contains addresses for the purpose of sending automatic
email notifications).

Edit Address Book Edit or add contacts and groups in the Address Book (which contains addresses for the
purpose of sending automatic email notifications).

Override Archive Check In Check in a file regardless of who checked it out or from where it was checked out.

Configure Archive Options Settings Turn on or off the function that allows Logix Designer to perform archive activities,
such as file check-in, without direct interaction with the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Desktop Client and Web Client. FactoryTalk AssetCentre Diagnostics Connector
installation is mandatory if only FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client is used.

Override Archive Undo Check Out Undo a checkout even if a different user checked out the file.

Override Removal of Local Copies Choose to keep local copies of checked-in files on their computer. If this right is
allowed, the user can keep local copies. If this right is denied, the user is not given this
option.

Configure Personal Archive File Configure which software product launches when opening a particular type of file. If a
Associations personal file association is set, it will take precedence over the system file association.

Configure System Archive File Configure which software product launches when opening a particular type of file. This
Associations setting applies unless the user has specified a personal file association.

Configure Personal Archive Working Set a personal working folder for checking out files.
Folders

Configure System Archive Working Set the system working folder to which all users check out files unless they have a
Folders personal working folder.

Allow Empty Comment at Check In Leave the comment field empty as they check in an asset.

Allow Empty Comment at Check Out Leave the comment field empty as they check out an asset.

Allow Empty Comment at Unblock Leave the comment field empty as they unblock a workflow.
Workflow

Allow Empty Comment at Undo Leave the comment field empty as they undo check out an asset.
CheckOut

Clear the Get Writable Copy checkbox by Enable or clear the Get Writable Copy checkbox during get. Denying this permission
default enables the Get Writable Copy checkbox; a Get retrieves a writable copy of an Archive
object. Allowing this permission (by default) clears the Get Writable Copy checkbox; a
Get retrieves a read-only copy of an Archive object.

Store Latest Version Only Choose to store only the latest version in the Archive.

Set Maximum Versions Configure the total maximum number of versions stored in the Archive.

Configure Asset Inventory Settings Configure the settings in the Asset Inventory window.

Configure Assets Lifecycle Sync Synchronize lifecycle information in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server, Desktop Client,
and Web Client with the Rockwell Automation lifecycle website.

Display Calibration Management Data* View Calibration Management data in FactoryTalk AssetCentre.

Perform Calibration Management* Access Calibration Management functionality in ProCalV5 software.

Administer Calibration Users* Administer users, groups, and permissions in ProCalV5 software. This policy
only determines if the user is automatically added to the Administrator group in

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This policy setting Controls whether users can

the ProCalV5 software. Once the user is added to ProCalV5, changing this policy for
an AssetCentre user does not change the user's ProCalV5 security permissions.

Configure Database Limitations Configure the total maximum size of the AssetCentre database, the size warning levels,
the maximum number of versions per archive asset, the maximum size of Event, Audit,
and Diagnostics logs, and the database capacity status refresh rate.

Configure Database Maintenance Configure automatic database maintenance, manually analyze, or rebuild index
fragmentation.

Run Archive Database Cleanup Wizard Run the Archive Database Cleanup Wizard to delete unused versions of files.

Run Log Database Cleanup Wizard Run the Log Database Cleanup Wizard to remove old records from the logs. Data can be
exported and saved in a separate file.

Switch to Design mode Enter Design mode, in which the user can edit the asset tree.

Use Web Client Authorized users can use the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client.

Change Server Settings Authorized users can run the Server Settings Utility and change system settings.

Configure Options Authorized users can configure the system and client options.

View Event Log Show the Event Log and run a search on the Event Log.

View Audit Log Show the Audit Log and run a search on the Audit Log.

View Diagnostics and Health Log Show the Diagnostics and Health Log and run a search on the Diagnostics and Health
Log.

Change Diagnostics and Health Log Change the status of or add a comment to a Diagnostics and Health Log record.
Message

View Diagnostics and Health Log Status View a status history for a Diagnostics and Health Log record.

Enable or Disable DTMs* Enable and disable DTMs in the DTM Catalog.

Edit DTM Network* Show the DTM Networks dialog box to edit the DTM network.

Run PDC Field Edition* Use the Process Device Configuration Field Edition software.

Create a new schedule Create a schedule.

Edit a schedule Change existing schedules.

Delete a schedule Delete schedules.

View a schedule Show the Schedules tab.

Command a schedule Issue commands to a schedule, such as making the schedule active or running the
schedule immediately.

Create a Search Set up a new search to find entries matching specified criteria in one of the logs, in the
Archive History, or in Archive Check Out Status information.

* Starting from FactoryTalk AssetCentre version 10.00, process device capabilities are not supported. The policies
marked with asterisk are only kept for viewing purposes if you have upgraded FactoryTalk AssetCentre from version
9.00 or earlier.

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 Chapter 5 Quick Start 1: Configure the system

Step 4: Add contacts to the Address Book

Use the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Address Book tab to create contact information that the system uses to notify users
about the progress and outcome of FactoryTalk AssetCentre schedules and other system-related events. You can then
add contacts to groups (for example, [email protected]) if your existing mail system supports groups. This
allows you to inform recipients about system events simultaneously.

Tip: You cannot import groups from another email program. More than one user can create groups at the
same time.

To create contacts and groups, you must be granted View Address Book and Edit Address Book
permissions. See Step 3: Configure Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

To add contacts to the Address Book

1. Start the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client.
2. Select View > Address Book.
3. Select Tasks > Add New Address Book Contact or select the New button.
Keyboard shortcut: Press Ctrl-N)
4. Complete the information in the New Contact dialog box. You must enter a unique name for the contact that
is not the same as any other contact or group name. For the contact to receive notifications, you must enter
an email address.

Tip: If in your existing email system you have a group that already has an email address (for
example, a group of electricians with the email address [email protected]), you
can use that group’s existing email address. Simply create a contact and give it a name (for
example, Electricians) and enter the group’s email address ([email protected])
as the contact’s default email address. The individual email addresses of the electricians in the
group will not be added to the Address Book as contacts.

5. Select OK.
Once you have created Address Book contacts, you can add those contacts to Address Book groups. Groups
cannot be imported from another email program.
6. Select Tasks > Add New Address Book Group, or select the dropdown arrow after the New button, and then
select Group.

Tip: To add members to an existing rather than new group, see Modify contacts and groups in the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client Help.

7. On the Group tab in the Group Name field, enter a name for the group.
8. Select Select Members.
9. In the Contacts/Groups list on the left of the Select Group Members dialog box, select the contact or group
to add to the group, and click Select.

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10. Select OK.

Tip: For more information, see Address Book in theFactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client Help.

Step 5: Set up FactoryTalk AssetCentre database limitations

Use the Options: Database Limitations dialog box to specify the settings of database limitations, including:

• Total maximum size of the AssetCentre database

• Size warning levels
• Maximum number of versions per archive asset
• Maximum size of database table capturing logs
• Database capacity status refresh rate
• Email notification

Tip: Database limitation configuration is recommended but optional. You can use FactoryTalk
AssetCentre without setting up database limitations.

To set up database limitations

1. Start the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client.
2. Select Tools > Options.
3. Under Category on the left side of the dialog box, select Database Limitations.
4. Select the Database Limitations Enabled checkbox, and specify the settings as desired.

Tip: By default, the Database Limitations Enabled checkbox is not selected, and all the settings
of database limitations are unavailable. To select the Database Limitations Enabled checkbox to
configure all the settings, you must have Configure Database Limitations permission. See Step
3: Configure Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

The following table shows how to configure each setting for Database Limitations.

Settings How to configure

Total maximum size of the AssetCentre database Enter a value for the total maximum size of the AssetCentre database. No
minimum value is required.

Size warning levels Specify the percentage of database capacity as the Warning level or
Critical level. The status of database usage appears in the status bar of the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client.

Maximum number of versions per archive asset Enter a value for the maximum version number of an asset in Archive.
You can also configure the maximum number of versions per asset in
Archive.

Maximum size of database table capturing logs Enter a value for the maximum file size of Event Log, Audit Log, and
Diagnostics Log.

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Settings How to configure

If the file size of any log exceeds its maximum size, FactoryTalk AssetCentre
writes the log, and adds a warning log about the current event log size
exceeding its maximum size.
When the Event, Audit, or Diagnostic and Health logs reach the maximum
size, a warning message appears when you run the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
desktop client, indicating the log size status.

Database capacity status refresh rate Enter a value to specify the frequency to refresh the database capacity
status. The default value is 2. The minimum accepted value is 1, and 0 is not
accepted.
When the database capacity reaches the warning or critical level, or the
Event, Audit, or Diagnostic and Health logs reach the maximum size, a
warning message appears when the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client
refreshes the database capacity status.

Email notification Specify the email addresses to receive notifications when database size,
asset version max, or log size reaches alarm level.

Click the browse button to select an email address from the Contacts
and Groups address book dialog.
If you set any value as 0 or higher than the maximum size, or leave any
value blank, it is translated as unlimited.

SCAN to Proceed Validate whether the current total database size, event log size, audit log
size, diagnostics log size, and asset versions meet each own specified
threshold.
This operation is required when making any changes to the Database
Limitations.

Not all situations during database limitation configuration are covered in this manual. For detailed information, refer
to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Help.

Step 6: Configure the TLS protocol

FactoryTalk AssetCentre uses TLS 1.2 for secure communications. We recommend that you disable TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1
in the system and we strongly recommend that you use a certificate signed by a certificate authority (CA).

For more information about TLS protocol version support, see Protocols in TLS/SSL. For more information about the
compatible operating system, see Software requirements in FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.

IMPORTANT:
• When the installation environment is targeted to use TLS 1.3, FactoryTalk AssetCentre
requires both TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 to be enabled. FactoryTalk AssetCentre will not work if only
TLS 1.3 is enabled.
• Using the TLS protocol is an essential part for the communication security over your
network.
• If you want to configure the protocols as needed, you should use the same protocol for all
computers deployed in your network.

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For more information about the TLS configuration, see Configure the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system to use security
communications (TLS) in FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.

Create a self-signed certificate using Windows PowerShell

Follow these steps to create a self-signed certificate using Windows PowerShell on the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
server computer.

To create a certificate using PowerShell

1. Open Windows PowerShell.
2. Type the following command, and then press Enter.
New-SelfSignedCertificate -FriendlyName <certificate name> -DnsName

<FactoryTalk AssetCentre server full computer name> -CertStoreLocation Cert:

\LocalMachine\My -KeyUsage DigitalSignature,KeyEncipherment,DataEncipherment

Tip: If you are in a domain, a domain endpoint, which is the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server full
computer name, is required. See the full computer name from Start Menu > Settings > System >
About > System Info.

Export the created certificate for FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, desktop client, web client, and
agent computers

After creating a certificate on the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server computer, export the certificate that will be
imported on the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, desktop client, web client, and agent computers.

To export the created certificate

1. Open the Internet Information Services (IIS) manager, and then double-click the localhost node.
2. In Features View, double-click Server Certificates.

3. Double-click the certificate that you have created.

4. Select the Details tab, and then select Copy to File.

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5. On Certificate Export Wizard, select Next.

6. Select No, do not export the private key, and then select Next.

7. Select DER encoded binary X.509 (.CER), and then select Next.

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8. Select Browse to specify a folder for the certificate, and then select Next.

9. Select Finish.

Configure a site binding

Before you begin
• Create a self-signed certificate on page 36.

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To configure a site binding

1. Open the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager on the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server computer.
a. On the taskbar, select .
b. In the search box, type inetmgr, and then press Enter.
c. Select the best match result.

2. Navigate to localhost > Sites > Default Web Site.

3. Under Actions, select Bindings.

4. In the Site Bindings dialog box, select Add.

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5. In the Add Site Binding dialog box, configure the following settings.

For this option... Do this...

Type Select https.

IP address Select All Unassigned.

Port Keep the default port number 443 or if you needed, you may change it to a self-defined
port.
If you use a self-defined port, you must configure a firewall rule and web services URL
on page 45.

Host name Type the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server.

SSL certificate Select your certificate.

See Create a self-signed certificate on page 36.

6. Select OK.
7. In the Site Bindings dialog box, the created site binding is listed. Select Close.

Tip: You can remove the default HTTP site binding and only keep the created HTTPS site binding.

Turn on secure communication between the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, desktop clients, web
clients, and agents
Once you configured the TLS settings, turn on secure communication between the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server,
desktop clients, web clients, and agents in the Configure Server Settings Utility window.

To enable secure communication

1. Open the Configure Server Settings Utility window.
a. On the taskbar, select .
b. In the search box, type Server Settings.

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c. Select FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Settings.

2. Enter the user name and password to sign in to FactoryTalk, and then select OK.
In the Configure Server Settings Utility window, under Server Location, the domain name (FQDN) of the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre server computer will be detected automatically.

3. Select the Use the secure communication channel option.

4. Select OK.

Import the self-signed certificate to FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client, web client, and agent
computers
On the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, desktop client, web client, and agent computers, add the self-signed
certificate to the Trusted Root Certification Authorities certificate store. After importing the certificate to the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, desktop client, web client, and agent computers, you must configure a firewall rule
and web services URL if the default port is modified on page 45.

Before you begin

• Create a self-signed certificate on page 36.
• Export the created certificate on page 36.

To import the self-signed certificate on operating systems

1. Copy the created certificate on the computer.
2. Double-click the certificate.
3. Select Local Machine, and then select Next.

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4. When prompted to confirm the operation, select Yes.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions until you get to the Certificate Store screen.
6. On the Certificate Store screen, select Place all certificates in the following store.

7. Select Browse, select Trusted Root Certification Authorities, and then select OK.

8. Select Next.

9. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the import.

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To verify the import operation

1. Select Start, type mmc, and then press Enter.
The Microsoft Management Console opens.
2. Select File > Add/Remove Snap-in.
3. In the Add or Remove Snap-ins dialog box, select Certificates, and then select Add.

4. In the Certificates snap-in dialog box, select Computer account, and then select Next.

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5. Select Finish.

6. In the Add or Remove Snap-ins dialog box, select OK.

7. In the Microsoft Management Console, navigate to Console Root > Certificates (Local Computer) > Trusted
Root Certification Authorities > Certificates, and verify that the certificate is listed.

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8. If the certificate is not listed, make sure to select Certificates under Trusted Root Certification Authorities
> Certificates, and then select Action > All Tasks > Import.
9. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the import.

Configure a firewall rule and web services URL if the default port is modified
If the default port 443 is modified during the site binding configuration, you need to configure a Windows firewall rule
for the self-defined port.

To configure a Windows firewall rule

1. On the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server computer, click Start, type firewall, and then click Windows Defender
Firewall with Advanced Security.
2. Click Inbound Rules.

3. Click Action > New Rule.

4. In the New Inbound Rule Wizard, select Port, and then click Next.

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5. In the Specific local ports box, enter the self-defined port as set during the site binding configuration, for
example 9000, and then click Next.

6. Follow the on-screen instructions until you get to the Name page.

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7. In the Name box, enter the name for the new inbound rule, and then click Finish.

The new rule is shown in the list.

Step 7: Configure Windows Authentication

Windows Authentication is a secure way of authentication that uses the username and the password of the user
logged on to the operating system. In the communication secured with Windows Authentication mode, the username
and the password are sent between the client and the server in a hashed form.

Windows Authentication may be enabled in corporate networks that use Microsoft Active Directory services as well as
other ways to identify users.

By turning on Windows Authentication mode, you increase the security of the communication between the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre server, client(s) and agent(s) and prevent unauthorized users from accessing the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre server.

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IMPORTANT: For the purposes of FactoryTalk AssetCentre, Windows Authentication mode should be
enabled only in corporate networks that use Microsoft Active Directory services.

After you turn on Windows Authentication mode, the access to the page:

http(s)://assetcentre_server_full_name/rockwellsoftware/assetcentre

...will be secured from being accessed by anonymous users.

In order to access the page, the users will need to sign in using their Windows username and password.

This section describes:

• Turn on Windows Authentication mode in Internet Information Services (IIS) on page 48

Turn on Windows Authentication mode in Internet Information Services (IIS)

To turn on Windows Authentication mode in Internet Information Services (IIS)
1. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager on the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server computer.
On Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016:
a. On the taskbar click .
b. In the search box, type inetmgr, and then press Enter.
c. Click the best match result.

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2. Under Connections, expand the tree, and then click AssetCentre.

3. In Features View, double-click Authentication.

4. Under Authentication, click Windows Authentication.
5. Under Actions, click Providers.
The Providers dialog box appears.
6. Make sure that you have the following providers selected in the order presented in the following figure.
If these providers are not listed, select each of them in the list under Available Providers, and then click
Add.

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7. Make sure that all other authentication modes listed in the pane under Authentication are disabled.

IMPORTANT: When running FactoryTalk AssetCentre in a workgroup environment, Internet

Information Services (IIS) Anonymous Authentication is enabled by default. Anonymous
Authentication is required for proper operation of the system. To mitigate any security-
related concerns, you must run FactoryTalk AssetCentre in a domain environment.

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 Chapter 6

Quick Start 2: Design the asset tree

Everything that you do in FactoryTalk AssetCentre begins with an asset. The asset tree in the Asset View represents
your plant including all the assets (anything from a device to a program to a procedure document) that you want to
control, back up, or monitor. The asset tree provides you with a method of organizing your plant assets in a logical
fashion that makes sense to you (for example, by physical location, flow of materials, or machine type).

Quick Start steps for designing the asset tree

To design the asset tree, you must perform the following steps:

• Step 1: Plan the organization of your asset tree on page 51

• Step 2: Add assets to the asset tree on page 53
• Step 3: Change security settings for an asset on page 57

Step 1: Plan the organization of your asset tree

It is important to plan the organization of your asset tree in advance. The organization of the tree can impact your
efficiency in applying security settings to assets and setting up Disaster Recovery schedules.

Tip: For more background information to understand the types of assets available in FactoryTalk
AssetCentre and the use of the asset tree, see About the Asset Catalog and About the Asset View sections in
the Help.

You must be in Design mode to edit the tree. Only one user in the system at a time can be in Design mode.

Assets are listed in alphabetical order in the tree.

Security considerations
When initially added, an asset inherits the security settings of the container in which it is placed (and a container
inherits the security settings of the container in which it is placed). First, set security on the root. Then add
containers under the root and set security for those containers. Then add the next level of assets and containers, and
so on.

Schedule considerations
Schedules are set up by selecting the asset to be scheduled from the Asset View. You can only select one asset when
creating a schedule. If you want the schedule to operate on multiple assets, place all those assets in a container
in the asset tree. This container will be the starting point of the schedule. For example, if you want to back up the
configuration files for a group of devices, place all those devices in a container in the Asset View.

Organization

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When you initially set up the asset tree, you will have to decide what will be the most useful organization for you. The
following examples show three possible organizations:

• Physical location
In this arrangement, assets are organized by their physical location in your plant.

• Flow of materials
In this arrangement, assets are organized by the flow of materials in the production process. This might be
particularly useful for continuous and batch processes.

Tip: Items in the tree are automatically organized alphabetically. If you want to force a certain
order, use numbers in your asset names.

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• Machine type
In this arrangement, assets are organized by the type of machine. You might further organize machines of
the same type by location.

Step 2: Add assets to the asset tree

Assets are the heart of FactoryTalk AssetCentre. Anything you want the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system to manage
must be included in the asset tree. On first use, all assets to be managed must be added to the asset tree.

There are rules that govern the location of the different types of assets that you can add to the asset tree:

• The root may contain any type of asset.

Best practice is to place only generic containers or folders directly under the root and use them to organize
the tree in some useful way, perhaps by physical location or by function.
• A generic container may contain any type of asset.
• A device may contain files, binders, links, and folders.
• A folder or an asset inventory may contain files, binders, links, and folders.
• A file cannot contain any other assets.
• A link cannot contain any other assets.
• A binder cannot have any other assets placed under it.
Files are initially placed in the binder by specifying the files to include in the Add Binder dialog box and
checking in the binder, not by placing files under the binder in the asset tree.

Tip: When initially added, an asset inherits the security settings of the container in which it is
placed (and a container inherits the security settings of the container in which it is placed). Take
advantage of this inheritance by setting security for a container before placing assets inside that
container. See Step 3: Change security settings for an asset on page 57.

To add an asset to the tree, you must have:

• Switch to Design Mode permission. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.
• Create Children, Read, and Write permissions for the container into which you want to add an asset. See
Step 3: Change security settings for an asset on page 57.

Work online and offline

You can add devices to the asset tree whether your FactoryTalk AssetCentre client computer is connected to the
devices via a network or not. When connected to the devices, however, you can automatically acquire device

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information by browsing for the device. This method is preferred in this manual. The client computer must be
connected to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server to add devices to the asset tree.

Enter device information manually when:

• the asset cannot be identified by Rockwell Automation or third-party network browsers. For example, a device
not supported by FactoryTalk AssetCentre or the network browser would not be found when browsing the
network.
• the asset has not been placed on the control network yet.
• the client workstation is working offline so it does not have access to the control network.

To enter device information manually when you are disconnected from the device network, see Help. Select Help >
Contents. Open the Assets topic and click the Associate a device in the Asset View with a networked device topic.

To add assets
1. To enter Design mode, on the Asset View toolbar, click the Design button (Keyboard users: Press F3 to toggle
Design mode on and off). If you cannot enter Design mode, see If you can’t enter Design Mode on page 103.
2. Click an asset in the Asset Catalog and drag it to the desired location in the asset tree.

Tip: Select the container into which you want to place the new asset and press Ctrl-N.

3. Enter the properties for the asset. For additional information about completing the fields for a particular
asset type, click Help.
4. When the (Device Type) Properties dialog box is complete, click OK.

Tip: To learn about additional asset tasks (for example copying, deleting, moving, or renaming
assets), refer to Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Assets topic and click the desired topic.

Use Asset Inventory to add assets to the asset tree

FactoryTalk AssetCentre supports a new asset type, Asset Inventory. The Asset Inventory asset can be used to
scan physical automation devices on the network. When you run a backup or backup and compare schedule on an
Asset Inventory asset, the Asset Inventory agent service scans the connected devices and computers on the network
and stores unique identification information about hardware, firmware, and software in the backup data. Once you
have the Asset Inventory scanning result, you can add new assets from the scanning result to the asset tree. It is very
helpful especially when you build the asset tree for the first time. For information about schedules, see Step 4: Run
schedules on page 64.

You need to open the Asset Inventory window first before adding assets to the asset tree. After running backup or
backup and compare schedule on Asset Inventory, you can open the Asset Inventory window.

IMPORTANT: You must enter design mode to add new assets to the asset tree.

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To open the Asset Inventory window

1. Select View > Archive, or click the Archive button.
2. In the asset tree, right-click the Asset Inventory backup file and select Open, or select the file in the asset
tree and then at the top of the Archive tab, click the file link. The Asset Retrieval Options dialog box opens.
3. In the Asset Retrieval Options dialog box, keep the Show in Asset Inventory Grid View checkbox selected.
◦ If you want to open the Asset Inventory window in read-only mode, click the Get button. In read-only
mode, you cannot edit the additional information or commission date for device assets. A read-only
copy of the file is retrieved to the current working folder on your computer.

Tip: To open the Asset Inventory window in read-only mode, you can also right-click a
version of Asset Inventory asset's backup data on the History tab of Archive and select
Asset Inventory View.

◦ If you want to open the Asset Inventory window in editable mode, click the Check Out button. In
editable mode, you can edit the additional information and commission date for device assets. A copy
of the file is retrieved to the current working folder on your computer so that you can edit it.

Tip: Clear the Show in Asset Inventory Grid View checkbox to get or check out a file as a
normal backup file, without opening it in the Asset Inventory window.

4. The Asset Inventory window opens.

Once the Asset Inventory window opens, you can add new assets to the asset tree.

To add new assets to the asset tree

1. On the Devices tab in the Asset Inventory window, select the Add option.
2. Click the SYNC button.

Tip: Clicking the SYNC button doesn't add any new assets to the asset tree. It identifies assets in
the scanning result that are new compared to assets on the asset tree.
Make sure you are in design mode to proceed.

After clicking the SYNC button, assets on the Devices tab that:
◦ exist in the asset tree with the same properties appear dimmed. The checkboxes before them are
automatically selected.
◦ exist in the asset tree with different properties appear dimmed. The checkboxes before them are
automatically selected. You can update these assets with different properties using the Update option.
◦ don't exist in the asset tree can be added to the asset tree. The checkboxes before the new assets are
available.
3. Select the checkboxes before the assets that you want to add to the asset tree. Click the button
on the toolbar. The Asset Inventory Add Asset Wizard dialog box opens.

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4. In the Asset Inventory Add Asset Wizard - Step 1 of 4 dialog box, enter the required information before
proceeding.
◦ (Required) Asset Type
Click in the Asset Type field and click the browse button . In the Select Asset Type dialog box,
select the asset type. Click Select.

Tip: Device assets that can be mapped to the corresponding asset type have the Asset
Type field automatically filled. Otherwise, the Asset Type field is empty.

◦ (Optional) Asset Name

Click in the Asset Name field and type the asset name. The name must be unique within the parent
container. That is, you can have two devices with the same name in the asset tree, they just can't be in
the same container.

Tip: You can leave the Asset Name field blank. FactoryTalk AssetCentre automatically
creates the asset name according to the asset type appended with a number (like _2).

◦ (Required) Asset Location

Click in the Asset Location field and click the browse button . In the Select Asset Location dialog
box, select the node on the asset tree or click the Add New Container button to create a new generic
container. Click Select.

Tip: The level an asset is added to the asset tree depends on which node you select in the
asset tree structure. By default, the asset is added in the root. If you select a container, the
asset is added to the container. If you select a non-container asset, the asset is added to
the structure at the same level as other assets.

After Asset Type and Asset Location are specified, click Next.

Tip: You cannot proceed to the next step without specifying Asset Type and Asset Location.

5. In the Asset Inventory Add Asset Wizard - Step 2 of 4 dialog box, review the details of the new assets that
will be updated to the asset tree. Click Start.

Tip: To return to Asset Inventory Add Asset Wizard - Step 1 of 4 to modify the asset type,
name, or location, click Back.

6. In the Asset Inventory Add Asset Wizard - Step 3 of 4 dialog box, a progress bar is shown while the adding
operation is in process. If you want to cancel the operation, click Cancel. Usually, this step takes a very short
amount of time unless you are adding a large amount of assets.
7. When the adding process is complete, you can see the result of the adding operation in the Asset Inventory
Add Asset Wizard - Step 4 of 4 dialog box. Click Finish.
To export the result, click Export to save the result as a .csv or .txt file.
Assets added to the asset tree appear dimmed on the Devices tab with checkboxes selected before them.

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For more information about Asset Inventory, refer to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Help. Select Help > Contents, and
open the About the Asset Inventory window topic.

Step 3: Change security settings for an asset

Each asset in the asset tree has security settings controlling which users can perform what actions with that asset.

When initially added, an asset inherits the security settings of the container in which it is placed (and a container
inherits the security settings of the container in which it is placed). That is, children inherit security permissions
from their parents. You can assign explicit permissions to an asset, overriding the inherited permissions. You can
also break the chain of inheritance for an asset so that it will not inherit permissions. For more information on
inheritance, see the FactoryTalk Security Help, which is accessible from the Security Settings dialog box (referenced
in the following steps).

If you move an asset, it retains its security settings. If you copy an asset, the copy does not retain the security
settings of the original. Rather, the copy inherits the settings from its new parent container.

Tip: To change security settings for an asset, you must have Switch to Design mode permission. See
Step 3: Set feature security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30. Keyboard users: Press F3 to toggle
Design mode on and off.

To change security settings for an asset

1. While in Design mode, right-click the asset in the asset tree and select Security.
2. On the Permissions tab of the Security Settings dialog box, select whether you want to set permissions by
User or by Action.
3. In the top pane, select either the user or the action for which you want to set security for the selected asset.
4. In the bottom pane, select either the action (see the following table) or the user for which you want to set
security and select or clear the Allow and Deny boxes accordingly. For more detailed information on using
the dialog box and FactoryTalk Security, click Help.

This action... Allows you to...

AssetCentre

CheckIn does not require MoC workflow Turn off Management of Change workflow when checking in
selected files and binders associated with the selected asset.
Select Deny box to require Management of Change workflow on
check-in operation.

CheckOut - CheckIn Check out or check in files associated with the selected asset.

CheckOut does not require MoC workflow Turn off Management of Change workflow when checking out
files and binders associated with the selected asset.
Select Deny box to require Management of Change workflow on
check-out operation.

Get Get a copy of the file or files associated with the selected asset
from Archive.

Label Apply a descriptive Label to a version of a file associated with the

selected asset in Archive.

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This action... Allows you to...

Pin Pin a version of a file associated with the selected asset.

Promote Store an old version of the file as the most recent version.

Set Store Latest Version Specify that only the most recent version of the file associated
with the selected file asset should be retained.

Set Working Folder Set the working folder for files associated with the selected
asset.

Unblock MoC workflow Reset the Management of Change workflow status of files and
binders associated with the selected asset.

Undo CheckOut Undo a check-out operation for files associated with the selected
asset. See Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Archive topic
and click the Undo a check-out topic.

Common

Configure Security Change security settings for the selected asset.

Create Children Add assets underneath the selected asset (only if the selected
asset is a container or device-type asset).

Delete Delete the selected asset from the asset tree.

Execute This setting is not applicable in this release of the FactoryTalk

AssetCentre software.

List Children Show children of the selected asset. If a user does not have this
right, they will not be able to expand the selected asset to see the
assets that it contains. If you set this right to Allow, also set the
Read right for this asset to Allow.

Read Show the selected asset in the asset tree.

Show the selected asset's properties.

Write Change the selected asset's properties.

Tip: For more information on any of the Archive tasks listed in the first section of this table, see Quick
Start 5: Open and edit files in Archive on page 77.

To learn about additional asset tasks (for example copying, deleting, moving, or renaming assets), refer to
Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Assets topic and click the desired topic.

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 Chapter 7

Quick Start 3: Set up Disaster Recovery schedules

FactoryTalk AssetCentre allows you to create certain types of scheduled operations, the results of which (whether the
operation completed successfully or not) can be emailed to the desired recipients. Currently, FactoryTalk AssetCentre
offers two types of scheduled operations beyond scheduling searches — Device Monitor and Disaster Recovery.
The Disaster Recovery capability ensures quick and accurate file recovery by verifying your devices' program and
configuration files against protected master files.

A master file is a designated version of an asset's configuration data file. A master file may initially be uploaded
from the physical device such as a controller, processor, or robot, or it may be saved directly from the programming
software (such as Studio 5000 Logix Designer®). A master file is added to FactoryTalk AssetCentre for backup in
Archive and is required for some FactoryTalk AssetCentre functions such as Disaster Recovery Backup and Compare
schedules (where the file in the physical asset is backed up and compared to the master file stored in Archive so the
differences can be reported).

Disaster Recovery provides two types of operations:

• Backup. Stores a backup copy of files associated with a number of devices, including Rockwell Automation
devices, Siemens S7 Controllers (STEP7), FTP devices including Robots, and more.
• Backup and Compare. Retrieves a copy of the files associated with a device asset. If differences are found
and you choose to store the uploaded device files, the retrieved copy of files associated with the device asset
are promoted as the new master file stored in Archive.
• Change Detect. FactoryTalk AssetCentre can monitor a v20 or higher ControlLogix asset for any changes by
continuous polling of the controllers.

Scheduled events for Rockwell Automation Logix 5000 processors will fail if FactoryTalk Security is enabled for that
devices' programming software (RSLogix 5000 versions 16 and earlier). The problem is fixed in RSLogix 5000 versions
later than 16. For RSLogix 5000 versions 16 and earlier, running scheduled events requires a single sign-on for these
versions. This issue does not affect other device's schedules (such as robots or Allen-Bradley PanelView devices). If
a schedule contains both Logix 5000 processors and other devices, the scheduled event will only fail for those Logix
5000 processors for which FactoryTalk Security is enabled in the programming software; the event will complete for
the other devices.

To configure the system so that scheduled operations will succeed even with security enabled in the RSLogix
software, see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Welcome to FactoryTalk AssetCentre topic and click the About
the configuration for security-enabled RSLogix products topic.

Also, activation is required for Disaster Recovery. For information regarding the activation required, see Help. Select
Help > Contents. Open the Schedules topic and click the Activation in FactoryTalk AssetCentre topic.

Tip:
• To create scheduled searches instead of scheduled Disaster Recovery operations, see Step 2:
Create a search on page 69.
• Asset Inventory asset requires a separate activation to work with disaster recovery.

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Quick Start steps for setting up schedules

To set up schedules, you must perform the following steps:

• Step 1: Set up Agent Groups and agent computers in them on page 60

• Step 2: Create a schedule for the desired Disaster Recovery operation on page 61
• Step 3: Set up recipient lists for schedule results on page 63
• Step 4: Run schedules on page 64

Step 1: Set up Agent Groups and agent computers in them

FactoryTalk AssetCentre uses agents to perform Disaster Recovery operations. Agents are programs that
communicate with the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and perform tasks on behalf of the server. Agents allow work
to be distributed and shared among multiple computers to spread processing load and speed up operations. When a
server needs an agent to perform a task, it locates the computer running the operation and assigns the task to that
agent. The agent then reports the task's completion to the server.

FactoryTalk AssetCentre Agent Groups is a plug-in that helps you manage the agents into groups. With this plug-in,
the agent computers that are connected to the same FactoryTalk AssetCentre server do not need to have the same
configuration. This plug-in allows you to:

• Create agent groups, assign agent computers to the agent groups, and identify an agent group for an asset
• Assign backup and compare schedule tasks on an asset to the agent computers that belong to the asset’s
agent group
• Monitor the status of agent computers in the Agent Status pane, the Agent Group Creation and Agent
Assignment pane, and the Assets per Agent Group pane.

This manual covers operations configuring Agent Groups and agent computers within those groups. To add a physical
agent computer into the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system instead of managing agent computers in agent groups, see
Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Administration topic and click the Add an agent computer topic.

To learn about more Agent Groups configurations (for example, delete and rename an agent group, edit agent group
properties, delete an agent computer, edit agent computer properties, move an agent computer, and move an asset
from one agent group in to another) not covered in this manual, refer to Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Agent
Groups topic and click the desired topic.

Create an agent group

Agent Groups plug-in manages the usage of agents. By default, there is one System Default agent group, which
cannot be renamed or deleted. The System Default agent group is used for scheduled searches, and by default for any
Disaster Recovery tasks. If you need to create an agent group, follow the steps below.

To create an agent group

1. If you are not in it, enter Design mode.
2. On the Menu bar, click View > Agent Groups (or click the Agent Groups button).

3. Click the Add Agent Group button on the Agent group Creation and Agent Assignment toolbar. The
Add an Agent Group dialog box opens.

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Tip: You can also right-click anywhere in the Agent Group Creation and Agent Assignment
pane and select Add Agent Group.

4. In the Add an Agent Group dialog box, enter the name and the description for the agent group. Click OK.

Tip: The maximum number of agent groups that you can create depends on your licensed agent
group capacity. By default, you can create one agent group in addition to the existing System
Default agent group.

Create an agent computer

You can create an agent computer in Agent Groups to monitor the physical agent computers.

To create an agent computer

1. If you are not in it, enter Design mode.
2. On the Menu bar, click View > Agent Groups (or click the Agent Groups button).
3. Select an agent group, or an agent computer under the group where you want to add the agent computer to.
Otherwise, the agent computer will be created under the System Default agent group.

4. Click the Add Agent Computer button on the Agent Group Creation and Agent Assignment toolbar.
The Add an Agent Computer dialog box opens.

Tip: You can also right-click the agent group and select Add Agent Computer.

5. In the Add an Agent Computer dialog box, enter the name, location and the description for the agent
computer.
You can click the Connect button to check whether the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server service can connect
to the agent computer.
6. Click OK.

Step 2: Create a schedule for the desired Disaster Recovery operation

You can set up either a Backup or Backup and Compare Disaster Recovery operation when you create a schedule.

Tip: To create schedules, you must have Create a new schedule, Edit a schedule, and Command a
schedule permissions. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

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To create a schedule
1. In the asset tree, select the container or device for which you want to schedule an operation.

Tip: Multiple assets can be included in the same scheduled operation by creating a scheduled
operation for a container. For example, a single container may contain multiple controllers.
Scheduling a Backup operation for the container backs up all of the devices in that container in
one operation.
For all of a device's schedule properties to be available for modification, make sure each device
to be added to a schedule has its Configuration Data defined in the device's properties. The
Configuration Data will be used to specify the master file for a Disaster Recovery schedule. See
Step 2: Add assets to the asset tree on page 51.

2. Select View > Schedules (or click the Schedules button).

3. Click the New button (Keyboard users: Press Ctrl-N).
4. Complete the New Schedule Wizard: Step 1 Schedule Properties dialog box and then click Next.
You must enter a unique name for the schedule.
If you have more than one e-mail address you want to include, separate the addresses in the Completion
Email List field with semicolons (;), or, if you have View Address Book permission, select the contacts or
groups from the FactoryTalk Address Book. The report sent from this field is the End of Schedule Report. For
more information about the End of Schedule report, see Step 2: Set up recipient lists for schedule results on
page 63. For more information on a particular field, click Help.
5. Complete the New Schedule Wizard: Step 2 Recurrence Pattern dialog box and click Next.
To create a start time that does not begin on the hour or half hour, type the time (and AM or PM) in the field.
Be aware that it is possible to create a schedule that will not run on a specific date. For example, if you
choose to have a schedule run on the 31st day of every month, it will not execute in months that do not have
31 days. For more information on a particular field, click Help.
6. Complete the New Schedule Wizard: Step 3 Operation Properties dialog box. In the tree on the left side of
the dialog box, check boxes appear selected next to each asset in the schedule. Clear a box to not include
that asset in the schedule.

Properties for the selected device appear on the right side of the dialog box. For help completing the shown
properties for the selected device, click Help.
The schedule you created will be active unless you clear the Activate the Schedule box. For more
information on a particular field, click Help.
7. Click Finished.

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Step 3: Set up recipient lists for schedule results

There are two different types of schedule reports that you can send to specified recipients when a schedule
completes:

• End of Schedule report. This general report summarizes information such as a Backup and Compare
schedule's start and stop times and whether there were any differences between the contents of the physical
device and the asset's master file stored in Archive. This report is set up through the Schedules tab.
• Backup report or Backup and Compare report. These more detailed, operation-specific reports include
information such as asset and hardware details, the agent computer that ran the schedule, and the name and
location of the master file used in a Compare. For Backup and Compare operations, the Backup and Compare
report indicates whether or not differences were found. To include the detail of what these differences were,
attach the Compare Report file to the email notifications. Both the Backup report and Backup and Compare
report are set up through an asset's scheduled operation properties.

Tip: To send schedule results, you must have Command a schedule and Edit a schedule
permissions. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

Send an End of Schedule report

To send an End of Schedule report at the end of a schedule
1. On the Schedules tab, click in the desired schedule's Completion Email List field and then click the Browse
button. The schedule must be inactive to change the email address, that is, the Active checkbox must be
cleared.
2. Complete the Contacts dialog box.
3. To avoid scrolling the entire list, begin typing the last name of the contact or the name of the group. You
can double-click the contact or group to add it to the list of recipients at the bottom of the dialog box. For
information on adding a contact, see Step 4: Add contacts to the Address Book on page 33.
4. Click OK.

Send an operation-specific report

To send a Backup report or Backup and Compare report at the end of a schedule
1. On the Schedules tab, select the schedule containing the asset for which you want to send a report.
2. To select the asset associated with the schedule and complete its email (and other) operation properties, see
Help. Select Help > Content. Open the Schedules topic and click the Modify scheduled operation properties
topic.

Tip: After a Backup and Compare operation completes, if no differences are found, the Compare
Report file is attached to email notifications if, in the device properties under Attach Report
to email, you set the Event Completed field to True. If differences are found, the Compare
Report file is attached to email notifications if you set the Event Compare Differences Detected
field to True. See Help. Select Help > Content. Open the Schedules topic and click the Modify
scheduled operation properties topic.

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Step 4: Run schedules

You can activate a schedule so that it runs at its next scheduled time. You did this automatically if you selected the
Activate the Schedule box in the wizard when you created the schedule. You can also activate schedules from the
Schedules tab.

To run a schedule immediately, you can run schedules manually. Choosing to run a schedule manually immediately
runs the schedule and sends email notifications to your recipient list instead of waiting for the operation's next run
time. Running a schedule manually does not affect that schedule's next run time.

Tip: To run schedules, you must have Command a schedule permission. To activate schedules, you must
have Edit a schedule permission. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page
30.

Run schedules by making them active

To activate an existing schedule that you did not activate when you created the
schedule
• On the Schedules tab next to the schedule you want to activate, select the Active checkbox. If the selected
schedule is to run daily at 4:00 P.M., the schedule will run next at 4:00 P.M. today (or 4:00 P.M. tomorrow if it is
already later than 4:00 P.M. today).

Run schedules manually

To run a schedule immediately without waiting for its next scheduled run time
1. You cannot manually run a schedule that has Running status, so on the Schedules tab, select a schedule with
Waiting to Run status.
2. Click the Run Now button.
3. Once the schedule is run manually, it returns to Waiting to Run status. If running the schedule manually
causes the schedule to run through its start time, FactoryTalk AssetCentre does not attempt to run the
previously scheduled operation. Instead, the message The schedule has tripped but didn't run because it is

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already running is logged to the AssetCentre Event Log and the schedule waits to run again at its next start
time.

Tip: When you move, copy, or delete assets in the asset tree, the schedules for those assets are
also moved, copied, or deleted. To learn about the impacts moving, copying, and deleting assets
have on schedules, refer to Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Schedules topic and click the
Schedule changes when assets are moved, copied, deleted or renamed topic.
To learn about additional schedule tasks (for example, stopping schedules, changing schedule run
times, setting asset defaults for schedules, or renaming, filtering, and deleting schedules) that
are not covered in this manual, refer to Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Schedules topic
and click the desired topic.

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Quick Start 4: View and search logs

FactoryTalk AssetCentre offers three different logs:

• Event Log. This log shows database information regarding events that occur in the system. Events are
generally system-initiated. For example, an upload occurred, or a scheduled task completed. Event records
are generated by FactoryTalk-enabled products.
• Audit Log. This log shows database information regarding actions that users perform in the system, such
as making edits to aStudio 5000 Logix Designer project or opening or closing such a software product. Audit
records are generated by FactoryTalk-enabled products.
• Diagnostics & Health Log. The Diagnostics and Health Log provides information about the condition of
automation devices. For example, a monitoring software product, such as Automatic Device Descriptive
Analytics (ADDA) function and RSNetWorx™ MD, detects a problem with a device on the automation network. It
reports the problem and logs the information in the Diagnostics and Health Log.
FactoryTalk AssetCentre uses the same FactoryTalk Directory server with FactoryTalk Alarms and Events.
When installing AssetCentre Diagnostics Connector, FactoryTalk AssetCentre will log Automatic Device
Descriptive Analytics (ADDA) events from FactoryTalk Alarms and Events and displays them as Diagnostics
and Health logs in version 10.00.00 and later. FactoryTalk View Studio Enterprise version 12.00.00 and
Studio 5000 Logix Designer v33.00.00 are required to be installed for this function. The Automatic Device
Descriptive Analytics (ADDA) logs are not editable.

Tip: Initially, only previously existing data appears in the Diagnostics and Health Log if that
data was imported from the RSMACC™ Network Health Solution. This data is not updated by
FactoryTalk AssetCentre. New data is logged in the Diagnostics and Health Log only if RSNetWorx
MD is installed on your system or ADDA functionality is available.

You can search for and show specified records from one log at a time. For example, you could search for log entries
where a specific user performed a task on a specific computer.

You can perform searches in two different manners:

• Scheduled searches are used to execute a search on a recurring basis and works well for detecting specific
conditions and user behaviors in log data. For instance, you can create a scheduled search to detect unsafe
programming practices among your maintenance staff by searching the Audit Log for edits made to program
files at the end of each shift. You can run scheduled searches manually to show search results immediately.
Scheduled search results can be delivered via email. Search results can be printed and saved in .PDF or CSV
format.
• Unscheduled searches are used for one-time purposes or when there is an immediate need, such as
searching the Audit Log to determine if anyone has made a change in a control system that was working fine
a few hours ago, but now is down and preventing production.

Tip: In addition to searching logs, you can search the Archive History Log, the Archive Check Out
Status, and the Asset Extended Property.
To perform a quick search without complex conditions instead of the full searches described in
this manual, see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Logs topic and click the Perform a Quick
Search on a log topic.

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Quick Start steps for viewing and searching logs

To set up searches, you can view logs and then perform the steps to set up and run searches:

• Step 1: View logs on page 68

• Step 2: Create a search on page 69
• Step 3: Set search security on page 73
• Step 4: Run searches on page 74
• Step 5: View and print search results on page 74

Step 1: View logs

Viewing a particular log shows the latest entries for that log only. If no data appears in the log, see If no data appears
in a log on page 107.

Tip: To view the desired log, you must be granted View Audit Log, View Event Log, or View Diagnostics
and Health Log permission. If you do not have rights to view the desired log, the message You do not
have permission to view the selected log will appear. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk
AssetCentre on page 30.

1. When you click a log button, the newest log entries for the selected log appear.
2. Use the filter fields to limit the items shown in the log. To filter fields, see Help.
Click Help > Contents. Open the Logs topic and click the Filter log records topic.
3. To perform a quick search on a log, see Help.
Click Help > Contents. Open the Logs topic and click Perform a quick search on a log topic.
4. Use the column headings to sort and arrange the log data. See Help.

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Click Help > Contents. Open the Logs topic and click the Sort and arrange log records topic.
5. When you click a log entry, its contents are shown here in the Details pane.

To view logs
1. Select View > Logs.
2. To view the desired log:
◦ Select View > Audit Log (or click the Audit Log button).
◦ Select View > Event Log (or click the Event Log button).
◦ Select View > Diagnostics & Health Log (or click the Diagnostics & Health Log button).
To learn about the data fields shown in each log, click Help while the desired log is shown.
3. To show the contents of a log entry in the Log Item Details pane, click the log entry.

4. To update the shown log with any additional records, click . This updates the records in the log with
events that occurred in your system since the log display was last refreshed. The log display is automatically
refreshed at the rate determined in the client software settings. To change the number of seconds between
automatic refreshes, see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Logs topic and click the Change the refresh
rate and number of shown records topic.

Tip: To learn about additional log tasks (for example, sorting, filtering, printing, showing
attachments, or changing the status of a Diagnostics & Health Log record), see Help. Select Help
> Contents. Open the Logs topic and click the desired topic.

Step 2: Create a search

Use FactoryTalk AssetCentre Searches to show specified records of the Event Log, Audit Log, Diagnostics and Health
Log, the Archive History Log, the Archive Check Out Status, or the Asset Extended Property. Search results can be
based on any column of data in a record and are generated based on the complex conditions that you set.

Tip: To create unscheduled searches, you must have Create a Search permission. To create scheduled
searches, you must also be granted Create a Schedule, Edit a Schedule, View a Schedule, and
Command a schedule permissions. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page
30.

To create a search
1. Select View > Searches (or click the Searches button).
2. Click the New button (Keyboard users: Press Ctrl-N).
3. Complete the Search Properties page of the New Search Wizard dialog box. Be sure to enter a unique name
for the search and select its data source (the record you want to search). For information to complete any of
the fields, click Help.
4. To create an unscheduled search for the selected record, click Finished and go to Step 6.
5. To create a scheduled search to run at a later time, click Schedule, complete the New Schedule Wizard:
Step 2 Timing Properties dialog box.
To create a start time that does not begin on the hour or half hour, type the time (and AM or PM) in the field.
It is possible to create a search that will not run on a specific date. For example, if you choose to have a

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search run on the 31st day of every month, it will not execute in months that do not have 31 days. For more
information on a particular field, click Help. When the dialog box is complete, click Finished.
6. To configure how the search results will appear, complete the Source and Display tab. If you do not
complete this tab, the default format will be used for the search results. The following table lists this tab’s
buttons and options:

Button or graphic Description

Move the selected column one column to the left. Columns

appear in the search results report in the order in which they
are shown here. The columns of data available vary depending
on the record that you are searching. Sort precedence is
determined by column display order. For example, if you want
to sort the results by user name and then logged time, place
User Name as the first column and Logged Time as the second
column.

Move the selected column one column to the right. Columns

Move Column Right.
are sorted in the order in which they are shown. The columns
shown vary depending on the record that you are searching. For
example, if you want to sort the results by user name and then
logged time, place User Name as the first column and Logged
Time as the second column.

Show all of the selected record's columns in the search results.

This is helpful if you have de-selected some of the columns and
want to reselect all of the columns without doing so manually.

Show none of the selected record's columns in the search

results. This is helpful if you want to show very few columns
because you can deselect all of the columns and then select only
the columns that you want.

Show (row heading) Show the record's selected data fields in the search results.
In the Show row beneath the column heading, select
the checkbox for each field of data to show in the search results.

Sort (row heading) Select the shown data fields (above) to sort the search results.
In the Sort row beneath the column heading, click the cell to
select the desired sort order (Ascending, Descending, or No
Sorting). Columns are sorted in the order in which they are
shown. To change column order, use the Move Column buttons
described above.

Width(%) Specify the column width of data fields in percentage in the

search results. In the Width(%) row, click the cell to enter an
integer as the percentage of width for a column. The total of
each column's width percentage can be equal to or less than 100
percent, but cannot exceed 100 percent. When the total of width
percentage is less than 100 percent, all the columns except for
the last one will keep their width percentage. The last column

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Button or graphic Description

will expand its width by the percentage that is missing from 100
percent against the total of the rest column widths. For example,
there are a total of four columns, each of whose column width is
10 percent. In the search results, the first three columns take the
space of 10 percent of the entire row, while the last column will
take the space of 70 percent of the entire row, even though it's
specified as 10 percent.

Display all rows In the search results, show all records of the source log that
meet the search criteria.

Display only the first (number) rows In the search results, limit the matching records shown up to the
number indicated.

Tabular style Tabular style arranges each record with column-style headings.

Card style Card style arranges each record with row-style headings.

Portrait The search report is shown in portrait orientation.

Landscape The search report is shown in landscape orientation.

7. To create or modify the search criteria for the selected search definition, complete the Conditions tab. The
conditions you create determine the records that will appear in the search results. For example, you can
create a condition to include only the search results logged before or after a specific date and time. If you do
not complete this tab, there will be no conditions placed on the records returned in the search results. That
is, the search will return all records.
How FactoryTalk AssetCentre Evaluates Search Conditions
Evaluating ungrouped conditions is straightforward. FactoryTalk AssetCentre evaluates conditions from top
to bottom. Place conditions in the order you want them evaluated by using the Move Up and Move Down
buttons.
More complicated expressions can have a different meaning depending on how the elements are grouped.
With no grouping, FactoryTalk AssetCentre evaluates first the AND operators and then the OR operators.
Conditions grouped with parenthesis override this, so anything in parenthesis is evaluated first.
Example 1:
Occurred Time Equals '7/22/2007'
And Username Equal To Sally
Or Username Equal To Harry
And Resource Equal To Line1Computer
In this case, FactoryTalk AssetCentre evaluates first the ANDs and then the OR, so it is as if the expression
were written:
(7/22/2007 AND Sally) Or (Harry AND Line1Computer)
Meaning: Include anything Sally did on July 22. Include anything Harry did on the Line1Computer.
Example 2:
Occurred Time Equals '7/22/2007'
And (Username Equal to Sally
Or Username Equal to Harry)
And Resource Equal To Line1Computer
The following table lists the Conditions tab’s buttons for creating conditions:

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Button or graphic Description

Create a condition on which to search. The New Condition

dialog box fields and options that appear vary depending
on the log data for which you are creating the condition.

Change the properties of the selected condition. The

Properties
Condition Properties dialog box fields and options that
appear vary depending on the log data for which you are
creating the condition.

Delete the selected condition.

Place a left parenthesis at the beginning of the selected

condition. Use parenthesis to group conditions to control
the way the entire expression is evaluated.

Place a right parenthesis at the end of the selected

condition. Use parenthesis to control the way the entire
expression is evaluated.

Place an And in front of the selected condition. By default,

each condition has an And in front of it. Use And when you
want results to appear in the search results only if both
conditions are met.

Place an Or in front of the selected condition. Use Or when

you want an item to appear in the search results if either
one or the other condition is met.

Place a Not in front of the selected condition. Use Not

when you want to exclude log records that meet the
condition.

Move a condition higher in the list of shown conditions.

While FactoryTalk AssetCentre does evaluate conditions
in a specific order (parenthetical conditions before And
conditions, and Or conditions last), it does also evaluate
those conditions from top to bottom.

Move a condition lower in the list of shown conditions.

Move Down
FactoryTalk AssetCentre evaluates the conditions in the
order that they appear.

8. When the conditions are created, click Save (Search Name).

9. To quickly see the search results, view the Preview tab.

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10. To format and modify the recipient list for scheduled search results as well as set the time zone for the
computer running the search, complete the Scheduled Search Operation tab. For information on completing
this tab, click Help.

Tip: The Scheduled Search Operation tab only appears when you select a scheduled search
definition on the Searches tab. To add a schedule to an existing search definition, see Help.
Select Help > Content. Open the Searches topic and click the Create or modify a search
schedule topic.

Step 3: Set search security

You can set security for a search definition to determine which users can set security for, save, execute, and delete
the search.

Tip: To modify security settings for a search, you must be granted Configure Security permission. In
addition, you must be granted the Read and Write permissions. See the steps below.

Do not deny yourself Read permission or you will no longer be able to show the Security Settings for
(Search name) dialog box to change security for the selected search definition. Generally, all FactoryTalk
AssetCentre users are initially granted each permission related to search security. To prevent other users
from changing your search definition, deny them Configure Security permission.

To set search security

1. Select View > Searches, or click the Searches button.
2. On the Searches tab, select the search for which you want to change security.
3. Select Edit > Security (or click the Security button at the bottom of the Searches tab).
4. Complete the Security Settings for (Search name) dialog box. To do this, select the user and then set
that user's permissions for the selected search definition, and then click OK. To add a user for whom to set
security for the selected search definition, at the top of the dialog box, click Add.
The Common permissions that apply to searches are:

This permission: Allows the selected user to:

Configure Security modify the Read, Write, Execute, and Delete settings for this search

Read show these security settings for this search

Write save this search

Execute run this search

Delete delete this search

5. Click OK.

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Step 4: Run searches

To run searches, you can either activate scheduled searches or manually run a scheduled or unscheduled search.
You may want to run a scheduled search manually if you do not want to have to wait for the search's next run time.
Running a scheduled search manually does not affect that search's next scheduled run time.

Time Zones
A scheduled search may actually run on a different computer than your client computer. If some computers in your
FactoryTalk AssetCentre system are in different time zones, it could confuse the time-related information in your
search results. To set the time zone for a computer that is to run a selected scheduled search, see Help. Select Help
> Contents. Open the Searches topic and click the About modifying and saving searches topic. To set the default
time zone for a computer that is to run scheduled searches, click the Set scheduled search options topic.

Tip: To run a search, you must be granted Execute permission. See Step 3: Set search security on
page 73. To activate and deactivate scheduled searches, you must be granted Command a Schedule
permission. To run a search immediately, you must be granted the appropriate permission for the type
of search you are going to run — View Audit Log, View Event Log, or View Diagnostics & Health Log
permission. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

Make a search active

To activate scheduled searches so that they run at their next scheduled run time
1. Select View > Searches, or click the Searches button.
2. Next to the searches that you want to activate, select the Active checkbox. If the selected search is
scheduled to run daily at 4:00 PM, the search will run next at 4:00 PM today (or 4:00 PM tomorrow if it is
already later than 4:00 PM today).

Run searches manually

To run a scheduled or unscheduled search immediately
1. Select View > Searches, or click the Searches button.
2. On the Searches tab, select the search row.
3. Click the Run Now button.

Tip: To perform a quick search without complex conditions instead of the full searches described
in this manual, see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Logs topic and click the Perform a
Quick Search on a log topic.

Step 5: View and print search results

Once you run a search, the results appear on a separate tab. Use the Report (Search Name) tab to view and navigate
the results of a search you have run, as well as export and print the search's results.

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Tip: To preview a search instead of showing the report, click the Preview tab.

To view and print search results

1. After you run the search, click the Report (Search Name) tab.
2. Use the Report tab's toolbar to navigate, export, and print the results. The following table lists the Report
tab's toolbar buttons and provides a brief description of each button’s functions.

Button Description

Export the search results to the desired location on your

Export Report
hard drive. Results are saved in PDF format.

Print the search results. Complete the Print dialog box and
Print Report
click Print.

Show the first page of the search results.

Go To First Page

Show the previous page of the search results.

Go To Previous Page

Show the next page of the search results. If the cover page
Go To Next Page
of the report is shown, click this button to see the first
page of the report containing the actual search results
returned.

Show the last page of the search results.

Go To Last Page

Show a specific page of the search results by entering the

Go To Page
page number.

Show the search results as larger or smaller using different

Zoom
percentages.

3. To close the Report tab, click on the right side of the tab.

Tip: To learn about additional search tasks (for example, filtering, modifying, renaming, sorting,
or deleting searches), refer to Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Searches topic and then
click the desired topic.

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 Chapter 9

Quick Start 5: Open and edit files in Archive

The FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive is a version control tool that helps manage asset files. Use Archive to keep
secure copies of asset configuration files, pin file versions as masters, track versions, and control file use so that
only one person at a time can modify a file.

Tip: When archiving FactoryTalk AssetCentre's File asset, the file size is limited by Microsoft SQL Server to
2 GB. It is not possible to archive files larger than 2 GB. FactoryTalk AssetCentre's Binder asset can store
collections that exceed 2 GB. Extreme care should be exercised when archiving Binders with sizes that
exceed 2 GB as it can negatively impact database performance.

Using Archive, you can:

• Keep automation files securely archived. FactoryTalk AssetCentre's Archive uses Microsoft SQL Server to
safely store archived files in a relational database. When you store assets in Archive, you reduce your need
to back up work and prevent accidental deletion of asset data.
• Ensure that files are modified by one user at a time. Designate a file that you want to work on and ensure
that no other users can work on the same archived file until your changes are saved in the Archive database.
• Version files. Archive is similar to a library. To use an archived file, check it out and when you are done,
check it in again. As with a library book, only one person can check out a file at a time. The difference is
that you can make changes to the checked-out file, so the library keeps a copy of each version of the file.
This way, if someone needs to see a version of a file before it was changed, the earlier version can still be
obtained. See Step 2: Check out a file for editing on page 79 and Step 3: Check in a file on page 80.
• Keep an existing version available for use while development continues. Pin the version of a file that you
want other users to use. Development can continue on that file and each revision is saved in Archive, but if
another user gets the file, they get the pinned version. Also, scheduled operations use the pinned version of
the master file. For information about pinning files, refer to Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Archive
topic and click the Pin or unpin files or binders topic.

Tip: To add files to Archive, all you need to do is add assets and their associated files to the
asset tree. See Step 2: Add assets to the asset tree on page 53.

Quick Start steps for managing files in Archive

To work with files in Archive:

• Step 1: Set a working folder on page 78

• Step 2: Check out a file for editing on page 79
• Step 3: Check in a file on page 80
• Step 4: Get a read-only version of a file on page 82
• Step 5: Open a file for viewing on page 84
• Step 6: Initiate a Management of Change workflow to check out a file for editing on page 85

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Step 1: Set a working folder

To edit a file or binder stored in the Archive database, you must place a copy of the file or binder on your local hard
drive. The location on your hard drive is called a working folder. Without a working folder, you cannot retrieve files or
binders from the Archive database. When you set a working folder for an asset, you set the working folder for all files
and binders within the asset.

Types of Working Folders

FactoryTalk AssetCentre has two types of working folders:

• System working folder. The location where images of files and binders will be stored when you check out
the files for editing or get a read-only version of a file. When the system working folder is set, this working
folder applies to all files and binders in an asset, and all FactoryTalk AssetCentre users. For example, if you
set a system working folder located at C:\BOTTLING PLANT for an asset called East Conveyor, when a
user gets or checks out the East Conveyor asset, the path C:\BOTTLING PLANT is created on that user's
local computer and will contain all of the East Conveyor asset's files. Each asset can only have one system
working folder. Any user with the Configure System Archive Working folders permission can set a system
working folder for an asset.
• Personal working folder. The working folder that overrides the system working folder. When you set a
personal working folder in Archive, the folder is created on your computer and remains your personal working
folder for an asset's files and binders. Other users use the system working folder until they set their own
personal working folders. If users set personal working folders for assets on one computer and then launch
FactoryTalk AssetCentre on another computer and want to use the same personal working folders, they must
set the working folders again.

Tip: When you check out, check in, or get a file or binder, you have the option of overriding the
current working folder with a temporary location. See Step 2: Check out a file for editing on page
79, Step 3: Check in a file on page 80, or Step 4: Get a read-only version of a file on page
82.

To set a system working folder, you must have Configure System Archive Working Folders permission. To set a
personal working folder (or to override a working folder when checking in, checking out, or getting a file or binder),
you must have Configure Personal Archive Working Folders permission (see Step 3: Set Feature Security for
FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30) and Set Working Folder permission for the asset (see Step 3: Change security
settings for an asset on page 57).

To set a working folder

1. Select View > Archive (or click the Archive button).
2. In the asset tree, select the asset containing the files and binders for which you want to set the working
folder.
3. On the Archive tab, after the Working folder field, click Set.
4. Complete the Set Working Folders dialog box. The current working folder for the selected asset appears at
the bottom of this dialog. If you set a personal working folder for yourself, it will override the system working
folder. However, all other users will use the system working folder for the asset’s files.

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5. Click OK.
6. To show the contents of a working folder in Windows Explorer, right-click the asset in the asset tree and
select Open Working Folder. To show the contents of a working folder from within Archive, with the asset
selected in the asset tree, and click the link at the top of the Archive tab:

Step 2: Check out a file for editing

Before modifying any file stored in Archive, you must retrieve a copy of the file to the current working folder on your
computer. Retrieving a file and making it available for editing is called checking out a file. Only one user at a time can
check out a file. If a file is checked out by another user, you must wait until that user checks in the file again before
you can check out and edit the file. However, you can get a file that is checked out by another user so that you can
view it in your project. For information about getting a read-only version of a file, see Step 4: Get a read-only version
of a file on page 82.

When you check out an asset, you automatically check out all of the files within the asset. You have the option of
checking out any files in subfolders of the asset.

FactoryTalk AssetCentre makes it easy to locate a file you check out by duplicating the asset tree structure in folders
and subfolders on your hard drive. A checkout duplicates the asset tree structure from the container or folder where
you set the working folder to the container or folder where the file you checked out is located.

Tip: To check out files, you must have CheckOut - CheckIn permission for the asset. See Step 3: Change
security settings for an asset on page 57.

To check out a file or folder of files

1. In the asset tree, select the asset containing the file(s) to check out. Once you select an asset in the asset
tree, you can also select the file to check out on the Archive tab.
2. On the Archive tab, click the Check Out button.

Tip: You can also right-click an asset in the asset tree (or a file on the Archive tab after you
select an asset in the asset tree) and select Check Out.

3. Complete the Check out dialog box by selecting any of the following options:

This option Performs the following:

Get local copy Select this option to check out the version of a file from
the Archive database and place it in your working folder;
any version of the file in your current working folder will be

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This option Performs the following:

overwritten by the version checked out from the Archive

database. Clear this option to preserve the file version
in your current working folder. It is useful when you've
performed a Get to retrieve a writable version of the file
to your current working folder and now want to back up
changes you make to that file in Archive. Clearing this
option allows you to continue editing the version in your
current working folder and back up those changes in
Archive the next time you check in the file. For information
about getting a version of a file, see Step 4: Get a read-only
version of a file on page 82.

Recursively check out files from subfolders Normally when you check out an asset, you check out all of
the files within the asset. Select this option to also check
out all of the files in subfolders of the asset. This option is
only available if you select an asset that contains files in
the asset tree.

Override working folders Select this option to override your current working folder
and check out files to a temporary working folder used
for this one checkout operation only. Type the path of the
temporary working folder (you can type the path of a new
temporary working folder and the working folder will be
created automatically), or click Browse to select the path
of the working folder you want to use temporarily.
To override the working folder, you must have Configure
Personal Archive Working Folders permission (see Step
3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on
page 30) and Set Working Folders permission (see Step 3:
Change security settings for an asset on page 57).

4. Enter an optional comment to summarize the work. This is helpful when tracking work done in a file. The
maximum length for a comment is 2500 characters.
5. Click OK. A check mark appears next to the file link and the checkout location of the file appears on the
Archive tab.

Tip: You can undo a checkout. This reverts a file or an asset's files to the previous version and
marks the file as no longer checked out. For information about undoing a check-out, refer to
Help. See Help > Contents. Open the Archive topic and click the Undo a check out topic.

Step 3: Check in a file

Once edits are completed to a checked-out file, return it to the Archive database. Checking in a file saves a new
version so that changes are backed up and protected in the Archive database. When you are working on a file over a
long period of time, it is good practice to check in the file daily.

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If you check in an asset, you automatically check in all files within the asset. You have the option of checking in any
files in subfolders of the asset as well.

You can only check in a file that someone else has checked out if you have permission.

Tip: To check in files, you must have CheckOut - CheckIn permission (see Step 3: Change security
settings for an asset on page 57). To check in a file someone else has checked out, you must have
Override Archive CheckIn permission (see Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on
page 30).

To check in a file or folder of files

1. In the asset tree, select the file or the asset containing the files to check in.
2. On the Archive tab, click the Check In button.

Tip: You can also right-click the asset or file in the asset tree (or a file on the Archive tab if you
select an asset in the asset tree) and select Check In.

3. Complete the Check in dialog box. The following options are available:

This option: Performs the following:

Check in and delete the local copy Check in the file so the changes are backed up in the
Archive database, and delete the copy of the modified file
from your current working folder.

Check in but keep a local copy Check in the file so the changes are backed up in the
Archive database, and keep a read-only copy of the file
in your current working folder. When you check out this
file again, you will have to decide whether or not you want
to overwrite the file in your working folder. This option
is only available when you have Override Removal of
Local Copies permission. See Step 3: Set Feature Security
for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

Keep checked out Check in the file so the changes are backed up in the
Archive database, but immediately check out the file to
yourself again so that you can keep editing it.

Recursively check in files from subfolders Normally when you check in a device or container, you
check in all of the files within that asset. Select this option
to also check in any files in subfolders of the device or
container. This option is only available if you select a
device or container in the asset tree.

Override check-out location with path Select this option to check in files from a temporary
working folder instead of your current working folder.
This is useful if you made a copy of a file and placed it
in a location other than the working folder to which you
originally checked out the file. To save any changes to the

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This option: Performs the following:

file you copied, click Browse and select the location from
which you want to check in the file.
To override the working folder, you must have Configure
Personal Archive Working Folders permission (see Step
3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on
page 30) and Set Working Folders permission (see Step 3:
Change security settings for an asset on page 57).

4. Enter a comment to summarize the work. This is helpful when tracking work done in a file. The maximum
length for a comment is 2500 characters.

Tip: Depending on the value assigned to the Allow Empty Comment at Check In security setting
for a particular user or group, typing a comment may or may not be obligatory upon the check-in.

5. Click OK. The check mark is removed from the asset or file on the Archive tab. The check-in action, as well
as the date and time the file is checked in, appears on the History tab. To learn more about the History tab,
see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Archive topic and click the View file history topic.

Step 4: Get a read-only version of a file

Use Get to retrieve a read-only copy of a file or the files in an asset to your current working folder. Get allows people
who need to use the file (but don't need to edit it) to get the necessary file version. For example, if you want to copy
rungs from another ladder program, you can get that program (even if another user has the file checked out), copy
the rungs, and then paste them into your file. Getting a file eliminates accidental changes to the master file.

You can get the current version of a file or the files in an asset, or you can select an earlier version. You can also get a
file that is marked as checked out, even if you have the file checked out.

FactoryTalk AssetCentre makes it easy to locate a file that you get by duplicating the asset tree structure in folders
and subfolders on your hard drive. Getting a file duplicates the asset tree structure from the container or folder
where you set the working folder to the container or folder where the file you get is located.

The date and time a file is retrieved appears in the file history. To learn about how Archive sets dates and times for
files, see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Archive topic and click the Date and time settings topic.

Tip: To get read-only versions of files, you must have Get permission. See Step 3: Change security
settings for an asset on page 57.

To get the current version of a file

1. In the asset tree, select the file or asset containing the files to retrieve and click the Get button.
2. Complete the Get dialog box. The following options are available:

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This option: Performs the following:

Get writable copy Retrieve an editable instead of read-only copy of the file.
This retrieves the most recent or pinned file version into
the current working folder.

Recursively get files from subfolders Place a copy of all files in subfolders of the selected device,
container, or folder into the current working folder. This
option is only available when you select a device, container,
or folder in the asset tree. It is not available if you select a
file.

Overwrite checked-out files Overwrite any versions of the file in the current working
folder with the version that you are retrieving from the
Archive database.

Override local name Select this option to provide another name for the file to be
placed in the working folder. Select the checkbox and type
a name for the file. When you click OK, the file is placed in
the working folder with the specified name.

Override working folders Select this option to retrieve the file into a temporary
working folder, instead of the current working folder,
for this Get operation only. Type the exact path of the
temporary working folder or click Browse to select the
working folder location where you would like to store the
retrieved files.
To override the working folder, you must have Configure
Personal Archive Working Folders permission (see Step
3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on
page 30) and Set Working Folders permission (see Step 3:
Change security settings for an asset on page 57).

3. Enter an optional comment to summarize the work. This is helpful when tracking work done in a file. The
maximum length for a comment is 2500 characters.
4. Click OK. The file appears in your current working folder. The Get action is shown in the file history unless
you select to show version-related activities.

Tip: To get a specific (labeled) version of a file, see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the
Archive topic and click the Label a file or binder version and Get a read-only version of a file
or binder topics.
You can also get a pinned version of a file, if there is one. For more information, see Help. Select
Help > Contents. Open the Archive topic and click the Pin or unpin files or binders topic.
To learn about additional Archive tasks (for example, promoting, or deleting files from the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive), also refer to Help. Open the Archive topic and click the desired
topic.

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Step 5: Open a file for viewing

If you have set a working folder for a file, you can choose to open that file to view its contents. This is helpful when
you want to make sure you have selected the correct file. Opening a file also allows you to copy its content.

When you open a file and have already placed a local copy of that file in the working folder by either checking out or
getting the file, the software program associated with the file opens the file. To set a file association for a file, see
Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Archive topic and click the Set file associations topic.

If you do not have a local copy of the file in your working folder when you choose to open the file, FactoryTalk
AssetCentre prompts you to either check out the file for editing (see Step 2: Check out a file for editing on page 79)
or Get a read-only version of the file (see Step 4: Get a read-only version of a file on page 82). This allows you to
place a local copy of the file in your working folder and have the associated software program open the file at the
same time.

To open a file
1. In the asset tree, right-click the file and select Open Working Folder. You can also double-click the file or
select it in the asset tree and then at the top of the Archive tab, click the file link:

If there is a copy of the file in your working folder, the file's associated software program launches and opens
the file.

Tip: If you do not have a working folder set for the file's asset, the message dialog box Unable to
Launch File appears instead of the Asset Retrieval Options dialog box. See Step 1: Set a working
folder on page 78.
If there is not a copy of the file in your working folder, complete the Asset Retrieval Options
dialog box to place the file in your working folder and then either checking out or getting the file.
For more information about checking out a file, see Step 2: Check out a file for editing on page
79. For more information about getting a file, see Step 4: Get a read-only version of a file on
page 82.
If the message No program is associated with the specified file for this operation, see If you cannot
open a file on page 107.

2. Close the file when you are done viewing it. Any changes you make to an open file will not be saved unless
you check out the file from Archive. See Step 2: Check out a file for editing on page 79.
If the automatic check-in feature is enabled, after done editing the file that checked out from Archive, you
will be asked if you need to save a new version. For more information on automatic check-in, see Help. Select
Help > Contents, and navigate to the Archive topic and then to the Check in files or binders automatically
topic.

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Step 6: Initiate a Management of Change workflow to check out a file for editing
You can use Management of Change to supervise the checkout and checkin operations.

Prerequisites
• You must have CheckOut - CheckIn permission for the asset.
• CheckOut does not require MoC workflow permission is denied.
• Administrator has configured electronic workflow rules for the application.

To initiate a Management of Change workflow for check-out operation

1. In the asset tree, select the asset containing the file(s).
Once you select an asset in the asset tree, you can also select the file to check out on the Archive tab.
2. On the Archive tab, select Check Out.

Tip: You can also right-click an asset in the asset tree (or a file on the Archive tab after you
select an asset in the asset tree) and select Check Out.

3. In the Check Out Request dialog box, enter the reason for checkout.

4. Select Submit.

5. (optional) To reset the file's and binder's status, select Unblock Workflow.

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You must have the Unblock MoC workflow permission.

Tip:
◦ Other users cannot perform check-out until the submitted request is approved or rejected,
or Unblock Workflow is used.
◦ After the request is approved by Management of Change administrators, you can do the
following steps.

6. On the Archive tab, select Check Out.

7. Complete the Check out dialog box.

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8. Click OK.
A check mark next to the file or binder in the Archive tab indicates that the item is checked out. The location
and the action statuses of the checked out item is also shown on the Archive tab.

For more information, see Working with Archive Management of Change website on page 123 or Archive Management
of Change website in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client Help.

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 Chapter 10

Quick Start 6: Manage Rockwell Automation hardware lifecycle

Assets Lifecycle provides the lifecycle information for Rockwell Automation hardware devices in the system. It shows
the lifecycle status in the form of a list that allows you to easily manage the hardware lifecycle and make decisions
about which device needs upgrade or replacement. In order to take advantage of this feature, the Asset Inventory for
disaster recovery license is required.

Quick Start steps for managing Rockwell Automation hardware lifecycle

To manage the lifecycle of Rockwell Automation hardware devices:

• Step 1: Synchronize lifecycle status on page 89

• Step 2: Refresh lifecycle status on page 90
• Step 3: View detailed lifecycle status on page 90

For more information, refer to Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Assets Lifecycle topic and click the desired
topic.

Step 1: Synchronize lifecycle status

Synchronize lifecycle information in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and client with the data on the Rockwell
Automation lifecycle website. For more information about securely accessing the Rockwell Automation lifecycle
website from your OT zone-based FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server, refer to this document Cloud Connectivity to
a Converged Plantwide Ethernet Architecture in Rockwell Automation Literature Library. You can synchronize the
lifecycle information of either assets or asset inventory in the AssetCentre server. The lifecycle synchronization is
recommended to run during server null time (time when no scheduled tasks or user interaction is taking place) if
possible. With the synchronization process being based on product ID or catalog number quantity, it can take some
time to complete based on the total collected, and will require server resources during runtime.

Synchronizing the Assets and Asset Library requires an Internet connection.

To synchronize lifecycle status of assets

1. Select View > Assets Lifecycle, or click the Assets Lifecycle button.
2. Click the Asset tab.
3. Click Sync. A progress bar shows.
4. After the progress, the lifecycle information is updated to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre database and the
lifecycle status is updated on the asset list.

To synchronize lifecycle status of asset inventory

1. Select View > Assets Lifecycle, or click the Assets Lifecycle button.
2. Click the Asset Inventory tab.
3. If you have used an asset inventory file before and don't want to use another version, skip to Step 7.
If this is the first time to use an asset inventory file, the Asset Inventory tab is empty. You need to specify an

RAAI file. On the right of the Asset Inventory File box, click .
4. On the left of the Select File dialog box, select an RAAI file in the asset tree view.

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5. On the right of the Select File dialog box, select an RAAI file version.
◦ Filter by label
Select this option to filter the RAAI files by label.
◦ Filter by version
Select this option to filter the RAAI files by version.
◦ Latest version
Select this option to use the latest version of the RAAI file.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Sync. A progress bar shows.
8. After the progress, the lifecycle information is updated to the FactoryTalk AssetCentre database and the
lifecycle status is updated on the asset list.

Step 2: Refresh lifecycle status

Refreshing lifecycle information only updates the data on the AssetCentre client with the AssetCentre server. You can
refresh the lifecycle information of either assets or asset inventory on the AssetCentre client.

This operation doesn't need an Internet connection.

To refresh the lifecycle status of assets or asset inventory

1. Select View > Assets Lifecycle, or click the Assets Lifecycle button.
2. To refresh assets, click the Asset tab.
To refresh asset inventory, click the Asset Inventory tab.
3. Click Refresh. A progress bar shows.
4. After the progress, the lifecycle information is updated from the FactoryTalk AssetCentre database to the
client and the lifecycle status is updated on the asset list.

Step 3: View detailed lifecycle status

In the asset list on the Asset or Asset Inventory tab, you can view the detailed lifecycle status of devices, including:

• Name: product ID of a device.

• Program Name: the name of a project that is created in the controller.
• Vendor: the name of the company that offers a device.
• Description: product description of a device.
• In Device: the existing firmware revision in the device.
• *Catalog Information: the catalog number of a device.
• *Manufacture Date: the manufacture date of a device.
• *Hardware Revision: the hardware revision of a device.
• *Warranty Number: the unique warranty number of a device.
• *Series: the series of a device.
• *MAC Address: the MAC address of a device.
• Most Current Minor Release: the most current minor firmware revision available for the device, including its
Release Notes, Product Notices, or Product Service Advisories.
• Most Current Release: the most current major firmware revision available for the device, including its Release
Notes, Product Notices, or Product Service Advisories.
• Lifecycle Status: lifecycle status of a device.

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• Last Update Date: the last time when the lifecycle status was updated.
• Discontinued Date: the announced discontinued date.
• Replacement Category: the nature of the replacement.
• Replacement Product: the recommended product to replace the current one.

Tip: Items marked with an asterisk (*) are enhanced CIP identity objects, which are only retrievable for
devices that support these items.

To view detailed lifecycle status

1. Select View > Assets Lifecycle, or click the Assets Lifecycle button.
2. Click the Asset tab or the Asset Inventory tab.
3. Click a device in the list. A window of lifecycle information opens.

Tip: For devices in the Active Mature, End of Life or Discontinued status, you can expand the
Replacement Information to view the recommended replacement product and replacement
category.

4. To close the window, click anywhere outside the window.

Tip: If you want to reopen the lifecycle window of an asset you just closed, click another asset
then click the one whose lifecycle window you want to open again.

Lifecycle statuses
In the asset list of Assets Lifecycle, there are seven statuses appended to each asset, showing their current lifecycle
stage.

Status Description

None The Rockwell Automation device was found in the PCDC, but the product lifecycle
status is set to None.

Active The most current fully supported Rockwell Automation device offering within a product
category.

Active Mature Rockwell Automation device is fully supported and available for sale. The product is
stable; future efforts will be focused on sustainment and maintenance. A newer device
or product family within the product category may be available; customers will often
gain value by migrating to the newer offering.

End of Life Rockwell Automation has announced a discontinuation date for the device. Customers
need to actively execute their migrations and last time buys. The Rockwell Automation
device is generally available for sale or download until the discontinued date, although
outages on specific devices within a product family may occur prior to that date.

Discontinued The product is no longer being sold, manufactured, or procured. Repair or exchange
services may still be available.

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Status Description

Multiple Status There are several product lifecycle statuses found in the PCDC for the Rockwell
Automation device.

Not Available The Rockwell Automation device was found in the PCDC, but there is no configured
product lifecycle state.

Non Rockwell Only available for FactoryTalk AssetCentre Web Client

The device is not a Rockwell Automation product. There is no product lifecycle
information available for non-Rockwell Automation devices.

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Quick Start 7: Work with remote FactoryTalk Directory

The FactoryTalk Directory is the centerpiece of the FactoryTalk Services Platform. It provides a central lookup service
for all products participating in an application. Rather than a traditional system design with multiple, duplicated
databases or a central, replicated database, FactoryTalk Directory references tags and other system elements from
multiple data sources and makes the information available to clients through a lookup service.

Before version 15.00.00, FactoryTalk AssetCentre was only able to run disaster recovery for the FactoryTalk Directory
to which the current FactoryTalk AssetCentre system belongs. Starting from version 15.00.00, FactoryTalk AssetCentre
introduces functions for the remote FactoryTalk Directory. Specifically, you can:
• Run disaster recovery for a remote FactoryTalk Directory.
• Run disaster recovery for a FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset that belongs to a remote FactoryTalk
Directory.
• Centralize FactoryTalk Diagnostics from multiple FactoryTalk AssetCentre systems.

Running disaster recovery tasks across FactoryTalk Directories

Figure 1. Remote FactoryTalk Directory architecture

This architecture shows how FactoryTalk AssetCentre supports the remote FactoryTalk Directory.

- On the left is the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and the main FactoryTalk Directory that it belongs to.

- On the right is the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and the remote FactoryTalk Directory that it belongs to.

For the remote FactoryTalk Directory functions to work, first register at least one remote agent computer to the main
FactoryTalk AssetCentre server by configuring the remote policies on the remote FactoryTalk Directory system. Then,
the remote agent computer runs disaster recovery workloads that are assigned by the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre
server.

Concept clarification: local vs. remote

In this architecture, local and remote are relative depending on where you are. For example, the main FactoryTalk
Directory (on the left) is local for you if you want to run disaster recovery for the remote FactoryTalk Directory (on the
right) using remote agent computers. The remote FactoryTalk Directory (on the right) is local for you if you configure

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the remote configuration policies. To the local user of the remote FactoryTalk Directory (on the right), the main
FactoryTalk Directory (on the left) appears as remote.

Forwarding diagnostics to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system

Figure 2. Forwarding diagnostics architecture

This architecture shows how diagnostics from the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre system are centralized to the
main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system. Diagnostics from multiple FactoryTalk AssetCentre systems can also be
centralized to one main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system, we only use this architecture of one main FactoryTalk
AssetCentre system and one remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre system as an example.

- On the left is the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and the main FactoryTalk Directory that it belongs to.

- On the right is the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and the remote FactoryTalk Directory that it belongs to.

For the diagnostics forwarding function to work, first install the Assetcentre Common Components on all the remote
computers and configure the remote policies within the remote FactoryTalk Directory system. After that, the
diagnostics in the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre system can be forwarded to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre
system.

Concept clarification: local vs. remote

In this architecture, local and remote are also relative depending on where you are. For example, the
main FactoryTalk Directory (on the left) is local for you if you want to collect FactoryTalk diagnostics from other
FactoryTalk AssetCentre systems. The remote FactoryTalk Directory (on the right) is local for you if you configure
the remote configuration policies. To the local user of the remote FactoryTalk Directory (on the right), the
main FactoryTalk Directory (on the left) appears as remote.

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IMPORTANT:
• To enable remote FactoryTalk Directory operations, a user credential must be provided.
Incorrect username or password entries will trigger automatic logging of failed sign in
attempts and generate lots of error messages in your FactoryTalk AssetCentre system. This
is intentionally designed for detailed audit tracking. To avoid frequent error notifications,
ensure that your FactoryTalk Directory signs in credentials in the remote server settings are
correctly configured.
• If the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and a remote agent are hosted on the same computer,
even if the remote agent information is configured within the remote server settings of a
remote FactoryTalk Directory, the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server cannot work as expected.
Make sure that the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and remote agents are not co-located on
the same computer so the cross-FactoryTalk Directory function can work correctly.
• If the FactoryTalk AssetCentre client and a remote agent are installed on the same computer,
even if the remote agent information is configured within the remote server settings of a
remote FactoryTalk Directory, the FactoryTalk AssetCentre client cannot work as expected.
Make sure that the FactoryTalk AssetCentre client and remote agents are not co-located on
the same computer so the cross-FactoryTalk Directory function can work correctly.

Quick Start steps for running disaster recovery across FactoryTalk Directories

To run disaster recovery tasks for a remote FactoryTalk Directory:

• Step 1: Register a remote agent computer on page 95
• Step 2: Run a disaster recovery task using a remote agent computer on page 96

Step 1: Register a remote agent computer

To enable disaster recovery for assets in a remote FactoryTalk Directory, you must register at least one remote agent
computer to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre server.

To register a remote agent computer

1. On the remote FactoryTalk Directory system, select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk
Administration Console.
2. Create a computer group and add computers. Disaster recovery tasks for the FactoryTalk Directory or
FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset in the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system will be assigned to agent
computers under this computer group.

IMPORTANT: Make sure that the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server or client is not installed
on the same computer as any remote agent to ensure the proper functioning of cross-
FactoryTalk Directory operations.

◦ In the explorer pane, expand System > Computer and Groups.

a. Right-click Computer Groups, and then select New Computer Group.
b. In New Computer Groups, enter a name for the group account in Name.
c. (optional) In Description, enter a description of the group account.

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d. In Members, select Add.

▪ Select the existing computer from the list.
▪ Select Create New > Computer to add a new computer.
e. Select OK.
3. Expand Policies > Product Policies > FactoryTalk AssetCentre.
4. Double-click Remote Server Settings.
5. Configure the following policies, and then select OK.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Name
Enter the name of the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre server to enable remote communications. This
is the server computer’s NetBIOS name.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Communication Port
Specify the port to use for communications with the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre server.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre TLS
Select Enable to used TLS to encrypt communications with the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre server.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Base IP Port
Specify the base IP port of the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre server that communicates with the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre agent.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk Directory User Name
Enter the username to sign in to the remote FactoryTalk Directory.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk Directory User Password
Enter the password of the username used to sign in to the remote FactoryTalk Directory.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre Agent Group
Specify the computer group that you have created in Step 2. Disaster recovery tasks for the
FactoryTalk Directory or FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset in the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre
system will be assigned to agent computers under this computer group.
6. Restart the FactoryTalk AssetCentre AgentController in Services in all registered agent computers or restart
all registered agent computers.

The remote agent group will then appear in FactoryTalk AssetCentre > Agent Group. For more information, see
Agent Groups in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client Help.

Step 2: Run a disaster recovery task using a remote agent computer

After registering the remote agent computer, you can run disaster recovery tasks for a FactoryTalk Directory or a
FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset within the remote FactoryTalk Directory.

To run a disaster recovery task using a remote agent computer

1. On the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system, select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the Asset Catalog, expand the SCADA, EOI, and FactoryTalk Items node, and then drag a FactoryTalk
Directory or FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset onto the tree in the Asset View.

Tip: Make sure that FactoryTalk View Studio Enterprise is installed and activated on every remote
agent computer.

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4. Select Backup Configuration, and then select the browse button.

5. Select Remote FactoryTalk Directory, and then complete the configurations.
For a FactoryTalk Directory asset:
◦ Server name: Enter the remote FactoryTalk Directory server name.
◦ Directory: Only the Network directory is supported. All applications and system configurations of this
FactoryTalk Directory will be backed up.
◦ File encryption: Select this checkbox to encrypt the backup file.
For a FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset:
◦ Server name: Enter the remote FactoryTalk Directory server name.
◦ Application path: Enter the application path for the FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset that you want
to back up. The format must follow Network(computer name)\application name.
◦ File encryption: Select this checkbox to encrypt the backup file.
6. Select OK.
7. Select Agent Group, and then select the browse button.
8. Select the remote agent group that you want to assign your tasks to, and then select OK. The remote agent
group name is your remote FactoryTalk Directory server name.
9. Configure other settings as needed, and then select OK.
10. Select View > Schedules or the Schedules button, and then select the FactoryTalk Directory or FactoryTalk
View Site Edition asset in your asset tree.
11. On the Schedules tab, select the New button and complete the configurations. For more information, see
Create a schedule in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client Help.

Quick start steps for forwarding diagnostics to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system

To forward diagnostics to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system

• Centralize FactoryTalk Diagnostics from multiple FactoryTalk AssetCentre systems on page 97

Forward diagnostic logs to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system

Before 15.00.00, the FactoryTalk AssetCentre database can only record diagnostics generated by Rockwell Automation
software in the same FactoryTalk Directory. Starting from version 15.00.00, diagnostics of Rockwell Automation
software in remote FactoryTalk Directories can be forwarded and centralized in one FactoryTalk AssetCentre system.

Prerequisites
• Make sure that the Assetcentre Common Components within the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Diagnostic
Connector has been installed on all computers that you want to forward diagnostics from. For more
information, see Install the AssetCentre Diagnostics Connector in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.
• Make sure that the FactoryTalk Web Authentication Server and FactoryTalk Reverse Proxy have been installed
in your main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system. For more information, see Install the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Server software in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.
• If secure communications (TLS) are enabled in your main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system, make sure that
the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server certificate has been installed on all computers that you want to forward
diagnostics from. For more information, see Configure the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system to use secure
communications (TLS) or Configure the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system to use secure communications (TLS)
with a self-signed certificate in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.

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• If your main and remote FactoryTalk Directory systems are in different domains, make sure to build a trusted
relationship between the different domains. Due to a Windows authentication limitation, you cannot forward
diagnostics between a main FactoryTalk Directory system in a domain environment and a remote one in a
workgroup.

To forward diagnostics to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system

IMPORTANT: For centralizing diagnostics from multiple FactoryTalk AssetCentre systems to one
main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system, you must repeat the configuration steps on those FactoryTalk
AssetCentre systems.

1. On the remote FactoryTalk Directory system, select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk
Administration Console.
2. Create a computer group. Diagnostics in these computers under this computer group will be forwarded to the
main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system.
◦ In the explorer pane, expand System > Computer and Groups.
a. Right-click Computer Groups, and then select New Computer Group.
b. In New Computer Groups, enter a name for the group account in Name.
c. (optional) In Description, enter a description of the group account.
d. In Members, select Add.
▪ Select the existing computer from the list.
▪ Select Create New > Computer to add a new computer.
e. Select OK.
3. Expand Policies > Product Policies > FactoryTalk AssetCentre.
4. Double-click Remote Server Settings.
5. Configure the following policies, and then select OK.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Name
Enter the name of the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre server to enable remote communications. This
is the server computer’s NetBIOS name.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Communication Port
Specify the port to use for communications with the remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre server.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre TLS
Select Enable to used TLS to encrypt communications with the remote FactoryTalkAssetCentre server.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk Directory User Name
Enter the username to sign in to the remote FactoryTalk Directory.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk Directory User Password
Enter the password of the username used to sign in to the remote FactoryTalk Directory.
◦ Remote FactoryTalk AssetCentre Diagnostics Forward Group
Specify the computer group that you have created in Step 2. Diagnostics in these computers under this
computer group will be forwarded to the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre system.

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6. Restart all computers in that computer group.

IMPORTANT: If these policies are updated after your initial configuration, restarting all
computers in that computer group is also necessary. In addition, if any computer has been
added or removed from this computer group, you must restart that added or removed
computer to apply changes.

The forwarded diagnostics can be viewed in your main system from FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client > Logs.

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Troubleshoot

Troubleshoot the FactoryTalk AssetCentre client

For additional troubleshooting information, see Help.

This section includes the following topics:

• If the client fails to start on page 101

• If the client cannot communicate with the server on page 102
• If you cannot enter Design Mode on page 103
• If you cannot connect to Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus devices on page 103
• If you cannot connect to Allen-Bradley MobileView devices on page 103

If the client fails to start

• Make sure that the client computer is connected to the network and the network is operational.
• Make sure that your FactoryTalk AssetCentre server computer is running.
• Make sure that the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server service, IIS and SQL server are all running on the server
computer (and the database computer if separate).
• Make sure the correct FactoryTalk Directory is specified. On the machine running the client, select Start >
Rockwell Software > Specify FactoryTalk Directory Location.
• If your computer is not authenticated by a domain controller (for example, if it is part of a workgroup
instead), turn off the FactoryTalk single sign-in feature. For information about single sign-in, see the
FactoryTalk help file. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk Help.
• Make sure that the server location setting is correct. On the server computer, go to Start > Rockwell
Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Settings. The server location must be set in this utility, NOT in
the FactoryTalk Administration Console.
• Make sure that the SQL Connection is set properly. On the server computer, go to Start > Rockwell Software
> FactoryTalk AssetCentre Data Source Configuration.
• If the message The client and server versions are incompatible appears when you attempt to start the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client, and the FactoryTalk AssetCentre software installed on the server
has been updated, then the software on the client needs to be updated. See the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Installation Guide for information on updating the client and agent software.
• If the message Error initializing FactoryTalk AssetCentre appears when you attempt to start the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre desktop client, your FactoryTalk AssetCentre server may have failed (or you may have lost your
network connection to the server) or the client computer may not be part of the FactoryTalk Directory. If you
have checked the server (as directed earlier in this list), try adding the client computer to the FactoryTalk
Network Directory. From another computer that has access to the FactoryTalk Directory (the FactoryTalk
AssetCentreFactoryTalk AssetCentre server, for example), use the FactoryTalk Administration Console to add
the computer to the FactoryTalk Directory.

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• If you are using a firewall, make sure that your firewall is configured properly to permit access to the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server. See the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide for information on firewall
settings.

Tip: For information on port requirements, see the topic Network requirements in the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide. Select Help > Installation Guide to open the guide.

If the client cannot communicate with the server

If a client cannot connect to the server (if the server status in the Status Bar is Disconnected) or the client cannot
connect to capabilities located on the network (for example, if logs won't show or schedule information does not
appear) check the following:

• client computer is connected to the network and the network is operational.

• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server service, IIS, and SQL Server are all online. See below for more information on
IIS.
• server location setting is correct. On the server computer, select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk
AssetCentre Server Settings. The server location must be set in this utility, not in the FactoryTalk
Administration Console.
• SQL Connection is set properly. On the server computer, select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk
AssetCentre Data Source Configuration.

To make sure IIS is running on the server computer

1. Click Start.
2. On the taskbar, click .
3. In the search box, type inetmgr, and then press Enter.
4. Click the best match result.

5. In the right pane, under Connections, expand the server node.

6. Expand Sites, and then click Default Web Site.
7. In the right pane, under Actions, check if the site is running.
If it is not, start it:
◦ In the right pane, under Manage Web Site, click Start.

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If you cannot enter Design Mode

• You might not have the appropriate permissions to enter Design mode. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for
FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.
• Only one user in your system can be in Design mode at a time. If another user is in Design mode, you will not
be able to enter Design mode until that user exits Design mode.
• The server might not be activated. To see if the server is activated, select Help > About. Under Components,
select FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Features, and then below that select FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Server. Activation information for the server appears on the right.
If the server needs to be activated, in the About dialog box, click Refresh. If the server is still not activated,
see the FactoryTalk Activation Manager Help for more information.
• The server, database, or FactoryTalk Directory may be offline or unavailable.

If you cannot connect to Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus devices

FactoryTalk Linx, formerly known as RSLinx Enterprise, must be installed on the client computer to communicate with
Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus operator interfaces. See the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide for information on
installing FactoryTalk Linx.

FactoryTalk View ME must be installed on the agent computer to communicate with Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus
operator interfaces. This is a separate installation that is not included as part of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
installation.

If you cannot connect to Allen-Bradley MobileView devices

FactoryTalk Linx, formerly known as RSLinx Enterprise, must be installed on the client computer to communicate with
Allen-Bradley MobileView operator interfaces. FactoryTalk Linx must be version 5.71 or higher. See the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre Installation Guide for information on installing FactoryTalk Linx.

FactoryTalk View ME must be installed on the agent computer to communicate with Allen-Bradley MobileView operator
interfaces. This is a separate installation that is not included as part of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre installation.

Troubleshoot Schedules
This section includes the following topics:

• If a schedule did not run on page 103

• If a schedule no longer appears on the Schedules tab on page 104
• If an asset is missing from a schedule on page 104
• My schedule contains extra devices that I don't want in the schedule on page 104
• If you are prompted to install agents when creating a Disaster Recovery schedule on page 105
• If you see the message "Failed to create RSLogix 5 [or 500] data [or program ladder] file list" on page 105
• If the scheduled Disaster Recovery operation never completes on page 105

If a schedule did not run

You must make a schedule active for its status to be Waiting to Run or Running. See Step 3: Run schedules on page
64.

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If a schedule no longer appears on the Schedules tab

Any user with Delete a schedule permission can delete any schedule from FactoryTalk AssetCentre. You do not have
to create a schedule to be able to delete that schedule. If you or another FactoryTalk AssetCentre user has permission
and deletes an asset from the asset tree, the schedule will be deleted. This occurs if an asset is the starting point (the
top level asset) of a schedule. The schedule cannot be retrieved. You must add the device to the asset tree again and
then recreate the asset's schedule. For more information about deleting assets, see Help. Select Help > Contents.
Open the Assets topic and click the Delete an asset topic.

If an asset is missing from a schedule

If you or another FactoryTalk AssetCentre user deletes an asset from the asset tree, that asset will be removed from
any schedules in which it was included. To restore that asset to the schedule, you would have to add the asset back
into the container in the asset tree that is the starting point of the schedule. When you add the asset back to the
container, it will appear in the schedule again, but it will have the default operation properties set under Tools >
Options. If these are not the desired properties, you can change the properties for that asset in that schedule. See
Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Schedules topic and click the Modify scheduled operation properties topic.

My schedule contains extra devices that I don't want in the schedule

Devices meeting the necessary criteria will automatically be added to a scheduled container as soon the device is
added to the container in the asset tree. To exclude assets from a schedule, disable the assets you do not want to
include in the schedule. See Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Schedules topic and click the Enable or disable
scheduled assets topic.

If a scheduled operation fails

• Certain operations, such as Backup and Compare, may fail if the operation requires that a device has a
master file and it does not. To select which version of the file in Archive will serve as the master file to the
device, see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Assets topic and click the Add an asset topic.
• The FactoryTalk Linx or RSLinx Classic path on the client computer where the device's addressing information
was set may not match the FactoryTalk Linx or RSLinx Classic path on the agent computer running the
schedule. All computers in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system must have the same FactoryTalk Linx or
RSLinx Classic drivers and paths.
• Scheduled events for Rockwell Automation Logix 5000 processors will fail if FactoryTalk Security is
enabled for that devices' programming software (RSLogix 5000 versions 16 and earlier). The problem is
fixed in RSLogix 5000 versions later than 16. For RSLogix 5000 versions 16 and earlier, running scheduled
events requires single sign-on for these versions. This issue does not affect other device's schedules (such
as robots or Allen-Bradley PanelView devices). If a schedule contains both Logix 5000 processors and other
devices, the scheduled event will only fail for those Logix 5000 processors for which FactoryTalk Security is
enabled in the programming software; the event will complete for the other devices.
To configure the system so that scheduled operations will succeed even with security enabled in the RSLogix
software, see Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Schedules topic and click the About the configuration
for security-enabled RSLogix products topic.

You will be unable to create a schedule for an asset that is to be the starting point of a schedule if the asset isn't
supported by the scheduled operation. Also, a schedule will not include an asset that is not supported by the selected
operation. For example, if you have Disaster Recovery for Rockwell devices, but did not purchase Disaster Recovery

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for Motoman Robots, you won't be able to create a schedule for a Motoman robot, nor will a Motoman robot appear in
a schedule for its parent container.

If you are prompted to install agents when creating a Disaster Recovery schedule
An agent is a program capability (such as Disaster Recovery) that can be located and run on a computer to help
another computer complete a task. Agents or operations allow work to be distributed and shared among multiple
computers to spread processing load and speed up operations. When a server needs an agent to perform a task, it
locates the computer running the operation and assigns the task to that agent. The agent then reports the task's
completion to the server.

If you receive a message to install agents or that no agents are installed, the software cannot contact any agents
(for example, Unable to create a new schedule ... No licensed agents are available). The computers running the agents
are not currently available on the network, the agent software needs to be updated, or there are no computers with
agents installed on the network.

• When you create a Disaster Recovery schedule, make sure you have not selected an invalid asset, such as a
binder or a file. You cannot create any schedules on a binder or file.
• Make sure you have selected a device asset for which you have the Disaster Recovery capability. The Disaster
Recovery capability operates only on device assets for which you have purchased the Disaster Recovery
capability. You can get Disaster Recovery activation for Rockwell Automation devices and for Motoman
robots. See the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.
• Creating a Disaster Recovery schedule requires that at least one computer on your network has the Disaster
Recovery agent installed on it. If there are no computers with the agent software installed, install the agent
software. See the topic "Install FactoryTalk AssetCentre agents" in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation
Guide.
• If the agent is installed, make sure the computers on which the agent is installed are running and available
on your network and that the Disaster Recovery capability is activated. See the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Installation Guide.
• The agent software must be the same version as the server. To update the agent software, see the topic
"Install FactoryTalk AssetCentre agents" in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.

If you see the message "Failed to create RSLogix 5 [or 500] data [or program ladder] file list"
This message appears if you do not have the RSLogix 5 or RSLogix 500 programming software installed on the
client computer on which you are specifying which files and data will be compared during a Backup and Compare
operation. Install the appropriate RSLogix programming software on the client computer or use a client computer
that already has the programming software.

If the scheduled Disaster Recovery operation never completes

The agent that actually performs the operation may be busy, unavailable, or uninstalled. If Waiting for Interface
appears next to the scheduled assets in the lower left pane of the Schedules tab and it never changes, then either
all agents are busy or no agents are online. You can check all schedules on the Schedules tab to see whether any
are running (and thus using the available agent or agents). You can also check the status bar to see how many agent
computers are connected to the system.

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If all agents are online, you may need to install the Disaster Recovery agent on more computers or change the
execution times so schedules are not running at the same time. To do this, see the topic "Install FactoryTalk
AssetCentre agents" in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.

Another reason can be that the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server has been updated, but the software on the agent
computer has not been updated. If the agent software version is not compatible with the server software, the
agent will not run. A message is logged in the System Event log and the AssetCentre Event log. You can also see the
number of active agents appears in the status bar of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client. To update the agent
software, see "Install FactoryTalk AssetCentre agents" in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.

Troubleshoot email notifications

This section includes the following topic:

• If email notifications do not reach their recipients on page 106

If email notifications do not reach their recipients

• Make sure you are using valid email addresses. Email addresses must be in standard SMTP format (for
example, [email protected]). Other types of email addresses are not handled by FactoryTalk
AssetCentre.
• Check the Event log to make sure that the scheduled operation is completing. See Step 1: View logs on page
68.
• Check your schedule definitions on the Schedules tab to make sure there are email addresses assigned to
receive notifications. See Step 2: Set up recipient lists for schedule results on page 63.
• Make sure the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server is set up to send email.To do this, log onto the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre server computer, and then select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Server Settings. Consult with your email administrator for the correct settings.
• If you are using a firewall (such as the Windows Firewall), make sure the ports used to send email traffic are
open. Also make sure that SMTP services are permitted to send traffic through your firewall.

Troubleshoot Logs
This section includes the following topics:

• If you cannot view a log on page 106

• If no data appears in a log on page 107
• If you cannot refresh a log on page 107
• If you cannot show a previously viewed log on page 107

If you cannot view a log

• You might not have the appropriate permissions to view the specific log. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for
FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.
• Your server may not be activated. To see if the server is activated, select Help > About. Under Components,
select FactoryTalk AssetCentre Server Features and then in the left pane, select FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Server. Activation information on the server appears on the right.
If the server needs to be activated, in the About dialog box, click Refresh. If the server is still not activated,
refer to the FactoryTalk Activation Manager Help and contact your system administrator.

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If no data appears in a log

• All logs. If no data appears in a log, you may not have permission to view the log. See Step 3: Set Feature
Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30. There might also be an error regarding your connection to
the server. See If the client cannot communicate with the server on page 102.
• Diagnostics and Health Log. Initially, only previously existing data appears in the Diagnostics and Health Log
if that data was imported from the RSMACC Network Health Solution. This data is not updated by FactoryTalk
AssetCentre.
New data is logged in the Diagnostics and Health Log only if Automatic Device Descriptive Analytics (ADDA) is
supported or RSNetWorx MD is installed on your system. Contact your system administrator.

If you cannot refresh a log

If you try to refresh the data in the currently shown log and the message You do not have permission to view the
selected log appears, your permission to view the log was removed after you showed the log. See Step 3: Set Feature
Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

If you cannot show a previously viewed log

If you try to show a log that you could view previously and the message You do not have permission to view the
selected log appears, your permission to view the log was removed since you last viewed the log. See Step 3: Set
Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page 30.

Troubleshoot Archive
This section includes the following topics:

• If you cannot check in a file on page 107

• If you cannot open a file on page 107
• If the wrong program opens a file on page 108
• If a button is not available on page 108
• If you performed a recursive checkout and the subfolders didn't copy on page 108

If you cannot check in a file

You may have changed an asset's working folder since checking out the file. Make sure that the working folder points
to the correct location of the checked-out file. See Step 1: Set a working folder on page 78.

If you cannot open a file

Before opening a file, you must retrieve an image of the file to the current working folder, or you will be prompted
to either get a read-only copy of the file or check out the file for editing. See Step 5: Open a file for viewing on page
84. If the message No program associated with the specified file for this operation appears, you need to specify the
software program that should open the file. See Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Archive topic and click the
Set file associations topic.

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If the wrong program opens a file

FactoryTalk AssetCentre allows you to set file associations to determine the software product that opens a file. The
wrong file association may be set for a file type. See Help. Select Help > Contents. Open the Archive topic and click
the Set file associations topic.

If a button is not available

If a button or field on the Archive tab is disabled, it generally means that the operation cannot be performed because
the user doesn't have the required permission. See Step 3: Set Feature Security for FactoryTalk AssetCentre on page
30. Also, the asset state may not permit the operation. For example, you cannot check in a file that has not been
checked out.

If you performed a recursive checkout and the subfolders didn't copy

If an asset's subfolder has its own working folder specified, files will be copied to that working folder rather than the
working folder of the asset. See Step 1: Set a working folder on page 78.

Troubleshoot remote FactoryTalk Directory operations

This section includes the following topics:

• If the agent cannot connect to the server on page 108
◦ The server and agent are in different network domains on page 108
◦ The server and agent are in separate VLANs across different domain controllers on page 109
◦ Missing or wrong policy configuration on page 109
◦ FactoryTalk AssetCentre server switch or FactoryTalk Directory switch on page 109
◦ The remote agent cannot go online on page 111
• If the remote agent computer registration fails due to duplicate names on page 111
• If the disaster recovery schedules fail due to mismatched asset properties on page 111
• Unsupported scenarios of cross-FactoryTalk Directory on page 112

If the agent cannot connect to the server

This section includes the following topics:

• The server and agent are in different network domains on page 108
• The server and agent are in separate VLANs across different domain controllers on page 109
• Missing or wrong policy configuration on page 109
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre server switch or FactoryTalk Directory switch on page 109
• The remote agent cannot go online on page 111

The server and agent are in different network domains

If your FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and FactoryTalk AssetCentre agent are in different network domains, the
agent cannot connect to the server even if the remote server settings are configured in your system. For example,
the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server is in a domain environment while the FactoryTalk AssetCentre agent is in a
workgroup. This is a Windows authentication limitation. To bypass this limitation, make sure that your agent and
server are configured in the same workgroup or the same domain.

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The server and agent are in separate VLANs across different domain controllers

In a multi-domain or multi-subnet network environment, host name resolution is a critical network service that
allows systems to identify and access other computers by name rather than by IP addresses. However, if traditional
DNS services fail to resolve host names across different domains or subnets, it can lead to communication
interruptions. For example, if your FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and agent are in separate VLANs across different
domain controllers, the network communication between them might be interrupted. To mitigate this, add a DNS
suffix to the network adapter settings on each computer to enhance the host name resolution.
1. Select Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
2. In the View your active networks section, select the Ethernet in the Connections field.
3. In the Ethernet 3 Status dialog box, select Properties.
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then select Properties.
5. Select Use the following DNS server addresses.
6. In the Preferred DNS server box, enter the DNS server addresses. The IP address must be your primary
domain address.
7. Select Advanced, and then select DNS.
8. In Advanced TCP/IP Settings, select Append these DNS suffixes (in order).
9. Select Add.
10. In the Domain suffix box, enter the DNS suffixes of the domain that you want to communicate with, for
example, ftacsub.ftacroot.local, and then select Add.
11. Select OK.

Missing or wrong policy configuration

If the remote agent computer has been added to the remote computer group, but it cannot connect to the main
FactoryTalk AssetCentre server due to misconfigurations or lack of network connection, it will not connect to a local
FactoryTalk AssetCentre server. This agent computer will work until your configurations are correct or the connection
is back. For how to register a remote agent computer, see Step 1: Register a remote agent computer on page 95.

FactoryTalk AssetCentre server switch or FactoryTalk Directory switch

The following describes how to troubleshoot for some switch-related scenarios after you have configured the remote
server settings and the connections between the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and the remote FactoryTalk
Directory have been established.

FactoryTalk Directory switch

When the remote agent computer’s FactoryTalk Directory is switched, for example, from FactoryTalk Directory 1 to
FactoryTalk Directory 2, the agent computer in these two FactoryTalk Directories will be marked as offline.

To resolve this problem, delete the agent computers in FactoryTalk Directory 1

1. Open the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client that has the agent computer added to the agent group, and
then select Agent Groups.

2. Find the agent computer, and then select to delete it from the remote agent group.
3. Restart the agent computer or the FactoryTalk AssetCentre AgentController Service in that agent computer.

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FactoryTalk Directory switch with DNS alias name configuration

FactoryTalk Services Platform allows you to use a DNS alias name, or CNAME, to specify the FactoryTalk Directory
server on each client computer. By altering the computer name associated with the DNS alias name, the FactoryTalk
Directory server association can be changed without reconfiguring the FactoryTalk Directory association of each
client computer. When performing cross-FactoryTalk Directory operations in FactoryTalk AssetCentre, if the
FactoryTalk Directory is changed from FactoryTalk Directory 1 to FactoryTalk Directory 2, the agent computer in these
two FactoryTalk Directories will be marked as offline, and related disaster recovery tasks will fail.

To resolve this problem:

Step 1: Delete the agent computers in FactoryTalk Directory 1.

1. Open the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client that has the agent computer added to the agent group, and
then select Agent Groups.

2. Find the agent computer, and then select to delete it from the remote agent group.
3. Restart the agent computer or the FactoryTalk AssetCentre AgentController Service in that agent computer.

Step 2: Update the FactoryTalk Directory server name and agent group selection in asset properties.
1. Open the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client, and then enter the Design mode.
2. Double-click a FactoryTalk Directory or FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset.
3. Configure the FactoryTalk Directory server name.
a. Select Backup Configuration, and then select the browse button.
b. Select Remote FactoryTalk Directory, and then configure the server name with FactoryTalk Directory
2.
c. Select OK.
4. Configure the agent group.
a. Select Agent Group, and then select the browse button.
b. Select the remote agent group that is a member of FactoryTalk Directory 2, and then select OK.
5. Select OK.

Main FactoryTalk AssetCentre server's FactoryTalk Directory switch

When the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre server’s associated remote FactoryTalk Directory is switched, for example,
from FactoryTalk Directory 1 to FactoryTalk Directory 2, the information of FactoryTalk Directory 2 in the remote
server settings, such as the username and password, must be reconfigured in all FactoryTalk Directories that host the
remote agents. In addition, you must restart the FactoryTalk AssetCentre AgentController service in all remote agent
computers or restart all remote agent computers to apply changes.

Main FactoryTalk AssetCentre server switch including FactoryTalk Directory switch

When the main FactoryTalk AssetCentre server is switched from FactoryTalk AssetCentre server 1 to FactoryTalk
AssetCentre server 2 while the remote FactoryTalk Directory associated with that server is switched from FactoryTalk
Directory 1 to FactoryTalk Directory 2, the information of FactoryTalk AssetCentre server 2 and FactoryTalk Directory
2 in the remote server settings, such as the username, and password, and server name must be reconfigured in
all FactoryTalk Directories that host the remote agents. In addition, you must restart the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
AgentController service in all remote agent computers or restart all remote agent computers to apply changes.

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The remote agent cannot go online

If the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server has been restarted or the network connections are lost, the remote agent
computers cannot go online automatically. You must restart the FactoryTalk AssetCentre AgentController service in all
remote agent computers or restart all remote agent computers to apply changes.

If the remote agent computer registration fails due to duplicate computer names

The automatic registration of a remote agent computer is not allowed if a duplicate computer name exists.

To resolve this problem, follow these steps based on your situation:

• If you intended to rename your computer, but it has resulted in a duplicate computer name:
1. On that agent computer, rename your computer to a unique name.
2. Restart this computer.
• If this remote agent computer is already added to one remote agent group within FactoryTalk Directory 1, and
then it is added to another remote agent group within FactoryTalk Directory 2, the original agent computer
information in FactoryTalk Directory 1 will prevent it from going online:
1. Open the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client that has the original agent computer added to the
agent group, and then select Agent Groups.

2. Find the agent computer, and then select to delete it from the remote agent group.
3. Restart the agent computer or the FactoryTalk AssetCentre AgentController service in that agent
computer.

If the disaster recovery schedules fail due to mismatched asset properties

When configuring the asset properties for FactoryTalk Directory and FactoryTalk View Site Edition that are in the
remote FactoryTalk Directory, you must use the matched FactoryTalk Directory type and agent group type so that the
disaster recovery schedules run successfully.

Examples for correct configurations:

For a FactoryTalk Directory asset:

Figure 3. correct FactoryTalk Directory asset property for remote FactoryTalk Directory

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For a FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset:

Figure 4. correct FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset property for remote FactoryTalk Directory

Examples for wrong configurations:

For a FactoryTalk Directory asset:

Figure 5. wrong FactoryTalk Directory asset property for remote FactoryTalk Directory

For a FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset:

Figure 6. wrong FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset property for remote FactoryTalk Directory

Unsupported scenarios of cross-FactoryTalk Directory

The following introduces the limitations and unsupported scenarios that you might encounter when using the cross-
FactoryTalk Directory function.

Remote agent group limitations

• Duplicate name creation
Creating a remote agent group is not allowed if a duplicate remote agent group name exists.
• License capacity excessive
Creating a remote agent group is restricted if the license capacity for the agent groups is exceeded.
• Online or active remote agent group deletion
Deleting a remote agent group is not allowed if any remote agent computers within this remote agent
group are online or active.
• Asset association
Deleting a remote agent group is not allowed if this agent group has been linked to devices within the asset
tree.

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• Automatic remote agent group registration

Automatically registering a remote agent group is not allowed if a duplicate name exists or the license
capacity for the agent groups is exceeded.
• Name modification
Modifying a remote agent group name is not allowed.

Remote agent computer limitations

• Duplicate name creation
Creating a remote agent computer is not allowed if a duplicate remote or local agent computer name exists.
• Online or active remote agent computer deletion
Deleting a remote agent computer is not allowed if the agent computer is online or active.
• Agent computer movement
◦ Moving an agent computer between the local and remote agent groups is not allowed.
◦ Moving a local or remote agent computer to a remote agent group is not allowed.

Troubleshoot database encryption key

A FactoryTalk AssetCentre system relies on a Microsoft SQL Server back end to store data for the entire system. All
system components are stored within the SQL Server database, including archived files, diagnostic logs, and the
actual configuration of the FactoryTalk AssetCentre system.

Proper retention of user-sensitive data is essential in any industry. For FactoryTalk AssetCentre version 15.00 or later,
a database encryption key encrypts your sensitive data in the database. This database encryption key enhances the
security of asset configurations and establishes a secure connection between the server and the database.

A database encryption key is generated by a user-defined passphrase during installation or using the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre Database Installer Utility and it is securely stored in your FactoryTalk AssetCentre server. A passphrase is
highly important for your data encryption or decryption operations and must be recorded properly for:
• Maintaining operational continuity if the SQL server database must be replaced.
• Recovering the data in extreme situations where the database encryption key is damaged.

An overview of database encryption key configuration

A database encryption key is critical for enhancing the security of your sensitive data and it must be configured
properly when:
• Installing FactoryTalk AssetCentre version 15.00 or later, or upgrading to version 15.00 or later.
You must create a database encryption key for your database by configuring a passphrase during the
installation. For more information, see Step 4: Configure the database encryption key in the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre Installation Guide.
• Configuring a database in FactoryTalk AssetCentre version 15.00 or later using the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
Database Installer Utility.
The Database Installer Utility is used to install or upgrade the SQL Server database required for the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre. When configuring a local or remote server, you must create a database encryption
key using a passphrase or enter the passphrase to access an encrypted database. For more information, see
FactoryTalk AssetCentre Database Installer Utility in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Installation Guide.

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• Switching to a database that has been encrypted using one database encryption key.
◦ During installation or using FactoryTalk AssetCentre Database Installer Utility:
You must enter the passphrase to access that encrypted database. If you forget the passphrase, you
can generate a new database encryption key using a new passphrase. However, the new database
encryption key can encrypt new sensitive data in the database and the sensitive data encrypted with
the old key then becomes inaccessible. The disaster recovery tasks scheduled with those sensitive
data cannot run correctly until you update them by following the instructions in Update the previously
encrypted data in the database on page 115.
◦ Using FactoryTalk AssetCentre Data Source Configuration Wizard:
If you receive an error indicating a mismatch between the encryption key in the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre server and the encryption key in the database, you must recover the encryption key to
access the encrypted data. For more information, see If you receive an unmatched key error in the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre Data Source Configuration Wizard on page 120.

Troubleshoot database encryption key

This section includes the following topics:
• If scheduled disaster recovery tasks fail after the database encryption key is changed on page 114
◦ Recover the previously encrypted data using the old passphrase on page 114
◦ Update the previously encrypted data in the database on page 115
• If you receive an unmatched key error in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Data Source Configuration Wizard on
page 120

If scheduled disaster recovery tasks fail after the database encryption key is changed

If you have generated a new encryption key, the existing encrypted sensitive information associated with certain
assets will become inaccessible. The disaster recovery tasks scheduled with those sensitive data cannot run
correctly. To resolve this, you can recover the previously encrypted data using the old passphrase on page 114 or
update the previously encrypted data in the database on page 115.

Recover the previously encrypted data using the old passphrase

If you remember your old passphrase after generating a new database encryption key, you can follow the instructions
to recover the old database encryption key to access the previously encrypted information associated with certain
assets.

IMPORTANT: The data encrypted with the new database encryption key becomes inaccessible once
you reverse to your old database encryption key. To resolve this, see Update the previously encrypted
data in the database on page 115.

To recover the previously encrypted data

1. Find RockwellAutomation.FTAssetCentre.DbInstaller.exe in C:\Program Files (x86)\Rockwell Software
\AssetCentre Server\Bin.
2. Right-click RockwellAutomation.FTAssetCentre.DbInstaller.exe, and then select Run as administrator.

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3. Specify the database server location.

a. In the Server box, enter the name of the database server.
▪ For the local database server
If you selected the default instance during the Microsoft SQL Server installation, keep the default
name of the database server as (local).
If you customized the instance during the Microsoft SQL Server installation, you
must enter the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of the server. For example,
WIN-2B92QFPB9C0\SQLSERVERTEST. SQLSERVERTEST is the customized instance name.
▪ For the remote database server
Enter the name of a remote database server, or in the Location list, choose the location of the
remote database server you ever used.

IMPORTANT: The default port used for SQL Server communication is 1433. If you
want to change the SQL Server port, you must add the port number after the SQL
Server name during installation. For example, mySQLServer,1526. The comma (,)
is required. You must ensure that the port is not in use by any other application,
service, or process in your system.

b. Configure the Secure communicating using TLS checkbox.

Tip: We recommend that you turn on TLS to secure the network. If the checkbox is selected,
you must configure a certificate for your system.

c. Select Start.
4. (Remote database only) Specify the user account that will be used by the server to access the database. You
are recommended to enter MSA or group MSA.
a. In the Account Name box, select Browse.
b. In the Select Service Account dialog box, select Advanced, and then select Find Now.
c. In the Search results box, select the sMSA or gMSA created, and then select OK.

Tip: If you turn on TLS for secure communication within the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
system and use a self-signed certificate, you must enter the Fully Qualified Domain Name
(FQDN) of the database server.

5. Configure the database encryption key.

a. Select Recover the encryption key, and then enter the old passphrase.
b. Select OK.
c. When the restore database encryption key confirmation dialog box appears, select Yes.

Update the previously encrypted data in the database

If you have changed your database encryption key, the existing encrypted sensitive information associated with
certain assets will become inaccessible. The disaster recovery tasks scheduled with those sensitive data cannot run
correctly. To resolve this problem, follow the instructions to update these encrypted sensitive information.

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The following devices have encrypted sensitive information. You can see the steps to update each asset property.
• Allen-Bradley E300 Overload Relay on page 116
• FactoryTalk Directory on page 116
• FactoryTalk View Site Edition on page 117
• FANUC Robot on page 117
• Generic FTP Device on page 117
• Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works2) on page 118
• Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works3) on page 118
• Schneider Controller (Control Expert) on page 118
• Motoman Robot on page 119
• Remote Computer on page 119
• Siemens S7 Controller (TIA Portal) on page 119
• Allen-Bradley Stratix Switch on page 119
• ABB Robot on page 120
• Asset Inventory on page 120

Update the Allen-Bradley E300 Overload Relay asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Allen-Bradley E300 Overload Relay.

To update the Allen-Bradley E300 Overload Relay asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Allen-Bradley E300 Overload Relay asset.
4. Select Authentication, and then select .
5. In the Authentication dialog box, enter the password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the FactoryTalk Directory asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for FactoryTalk Directory.

To update the FactoryTalk Directory asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the FactoryTalk Directory asset.
4. Select Backup Configuration, and then select .
◦ For a local FactoryTalk Directory:
a. In the Connect to FactoryTalk section, enter the password.
b. Select Connect.
c. In the Backup section, confirm that the backup type of FactoryTalk Directory is selected.
d. (optional) In the File Encryption section, enter and confirm the passphrase if it was configured
before.
e. Select OK.

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◦ For a remote FactoryTalk Directory:

a. (optional) In the File Encryption section, enter and confirm the passphrase if it was configured
before.
b. Select OK.
5. Select OK.

Update the FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for FactoryTalk View Site Edition.

To update the FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the FactoryTalk View Site Edition asset.
4. Select Backup Configuration, and then select .
◦ For a local FactoryTalk Directory:
a. In the Connect to FactoryTalk section, enter the password.
b. Select Connect.
c. In the Backup section, confirm that the application to back up is selected.
d. (optional) Enter and confirm the password if it was configured before.
e. Select OK.
◦ For a remote FactoryTalk Directory:
a. (optional) In the File Encryption section, enter and confirm the password if it was configured
before.
b. Select OK.
5. Select OK.

Update the FANUC Robot asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for FANUC Robot.

To update the FANUC Robot asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the FANUC Robot asset.
4. Select Addressing Info, and then select .
5. In the FTP Address dialog box, enter the password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the Generic FTP Device asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Generic FTP Device.

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To update the Generic FTP Device asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Generic FTP Device asset.
4. Select Addressing Info, and then select .
5. In the FTP Address dialog box, enter the password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works2) asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works2).

To update the Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works2) asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works2) asset.
4. Select Security Configuration, and then select .
5. In the Security Configuration dialog box, enter the project user password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works3) asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works3).

To update the Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works3) asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Mitsubishi Controller (GX Works3) asset.
4. Select Security Configuration, and then select .
5. In the Security Configuration dialog box, enter the project user password, password file access, or password
remote connection if any were configured before, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the Schneider Controller (Control Expert) asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Schneider Controller (Control Expert).

To update the Schneider Controller (Control Expert) asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Schneider Controller (Control Expert) asset.
4. Select Addressing Info, and then select .
5. In the Schneider Addressing dialog box, enter the application password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

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Update the Motoman Robot asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Motoman Robot.

To update the Motoman Robot asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Motoman Robot asset.
4. Select Addressing Info, and then select .
5. In the FTP Address dialog box, enter the password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the Remote Computer asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Remote Computer.

To update the Remote Computer asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Remote Computer asset.
4. Select Addressing Info, and then select .
5. In the UNC Path dialog box, enter the password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the Siemens S7 Controller (TIA Portal) asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Siemens S7 Controller (TIA Portal).

To update the Siemens S7 Controller (TIA Portal) asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Siemens S7 Controller (TIA Portal) asset.
4. Select Addressing Info, and then select .
5. In the TIA Portal Addressing dialog box, enter the access password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the Allen-Bradley Stratix Switch asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Allen-Bradley Stratix Switch.

To update the Allen-Bradley Stratix Switch asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Allen-Bradley Stratix Switch asset.
4. Select Addressing Info, and then select .

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5. In the Stratix Switch Address dialog box, enter and enable the password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the ABB Robot asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for ABB Robot.

To update the ABB Robot asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the ABB Robot asset.
4. Select Addressing Info, and then select .
5. In the FTP Address dialog box, enter the password, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

Update the Asset Inventory asset property

Follow the steps to update asset property for Asset Inventory.

To update the Asset Inventory asset property

1. Select Start > Rockwell Software > FactoryTalk AssetCentre Client.
2. To enter Design mode if you are not already in it, select Design.
3. In the asset tree, find and double-click the Asset Inventory asset.
4. Select Scanning Configuration, and then select .
5. In the Scanning Configuration dialog box, enter the login and password if the asset inventory schedule was
configured as scan with WMI, and then select OK.
6. Select OK.

If you receive an unmatched key error in the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Data Source Configuration
Wizard

After connecting the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server to a new database using the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Data
Source Configuration Wizard, you might receive an error indicating a mismatch between the encryption key in the
FactoryTalk AssetCentre server and the encryption key in the database. To resolve this problem, recover the database
encryption key to complete the desired database configuration. Otherwise, the system cannot access the encrypted
data in your specified database, and scheduled disaster recovery tasks using these data will fail.

To recover the database encryption key

1. Find RockwellAutomation.FTAssetCentre.DbInstaller.exe in C:\Program Files (x86)\Rockwell Software
\AssetCentre Server\Bin.
2. Right-click RockwellAutomation.FTAssetCentre.DbInstaller.exe, and then select Run as administrator.
3. Specify the database server location.
a. In the Server box, enter the name of the database server.
▪ For the local database server
If you selected the default instance during the Microsoft SQL Server installation, keep the default
name of the database server as (local).

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 Chapter 12 Troubleshoot

If you customized the instance during the Microsoft SQL Server installation, you
must enter the Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of the server. For example,
WIN-2B92QFPB9C0\SQLSERVERTEST. SQLSERVERTEST is the customized instance name.
▪ For the remote database server
Enter the name of a remote database server, or in the Location list, choose the location of the
remote database server you ever used.

IMPORTANT: The default port used for SQL Server communication is 1433. If you
want to change the SQL Server port, you must add the port number after the SQL
Server name during installation. For example, mySQLServer,1526. The comma (,)
is required. You must ensure that the port is not in use by any other application,
service, or process in your system.

b. Configure the Secure communicating using TLS checkbox.

Tip: We recommend that you turn on TLS to secure the network. If the checkbox is selected,
you must configure a certificate for your system.

c. Select Start.
4. (Remote database only) Specify the user account that will be used by the server to access the database. You
are recommended to enter MSA or group MSA.
a. In the Account Name box, select Browse.
b. In the Select Service Account dialog box, select Advanced, and then select Find Now.
c. In the Search results box, select the sMSA or gMSA created, and then select OK.

Tip: If you turn on TLS for secure communication within the FactoryTalk AssetCentre
system and use a self-signed certificate, you must enter the Fully Qualified Domain Name
(FQDN) of the database server.

5. Configure the database encryption key.

a. Select Recover the encryption key.
b. Enter the passphrase that you have configured for the specified database.
6. Select OK.

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 Appendix A

Working with Archive Management of Change website

How do I open Archive Management of Change?

Prerequisites
• Make sure that you are using FactoryTalk AssetCentre version 11.00 or higher.
• Make sure that you have activated Management of Change after installing FactoryTalk AssetCentre.
• Make sure that you are in a Windows domain environment.

To open Archive Management of Change

On the FactoryTalk AssetCentre desktop client, select Tools > Management of Change Admin.

The FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive Management of Change capability adds a new level of authorization to the
existing archive security for version control and archival of program files and documents. This function provides an
electronic authorization workflow when performing a check-out or check-in of a file, binder, or folder.

This chapter includes the following sections:

• User configuration on page 123

• Change request rules configurations for workflows on page 127
• Change request rules configurations for checklists on page 132

User configuration
Management of Change users are managed within the Management of Change Admin webpage. Users are
automatically created in the Management of Change module the first time that a user connects, either to submit a
check-out request or to approve or reject a request. There are two types of Management of Change user roles:
• Administrator: manages workflows and maintains users within the Management of Change Admin
webpage. The user who installs the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server is automatically created as an
administrator-level user.
• User: submits, approves, or rejects requests. This is a default role when users are automatically created.

This section includes the following topics:

• Create a user on page 123
• Edit a user on page 125
• View user logs on page 125
• Delete a user on page 127

Create a user

For Management of Change users, only the users with administrator privilege can create a user and assign it as Users
or Administrators.

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Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

To create a user
1. Select Users.

2. On Users, select Create.

3. In the New User window, specify the following:

◦ User ID
It is required for creating a user. The format must follow <domain_name>\<username>. The User ID is
always the user's sign in account.
◦ Role
You can assign the new users as Users or Administrators.
◦ First Name
It is required for creating a user. The user's first name.
◦ Last Name
The user's family name.
◦ SMS Number
The user's SMS country code and phone number. Make sure that the FactoryTalk AssetCentre server has
internet access when using the SMS notification functionality.
◦ Email Address
The user's email address. If you have multiple email addresses, select Add another email address.
Make sure that you have configured a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server in the FactoryTalk
AssetCentre Server Settings.
4. Select Create.

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 Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

Edit a user

You can edit the user's information.

To edit a user
1. Select Users.

2. On Users, select a user’s checkbox, and then select View.

3. In the user's window, select Edit.

4. Edit the information that you want to change, and then select Save.

View user logs

You can view a user's information, the user activity logs, and the audit logs.

To view user logs

1. Select Users.

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Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

2. On Users, select a user’s checkbox, and then select View.

3. In the user's window, select User Activity to view all actions related to the selected user.

4. Select Audit to see updates that are made to the selected user.

5. Select Save.

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 Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

Delete a user

Only users with administrator privileges can delete the users.

To delete a user
1. Select Users.

2. On Users, select the users that you want to delete. Select Delete.

Tip: While the users are selected, you can also select View > Delete to delete the user.

3. When the confirmation dialog box opens, select OK.

Change request rules configuration for workflows

Management of Change administrators can manage the Management of Change workflows. A rule is equivalent to a
workflow, which consists of conditions and notifications. It can be created for the check-out and check-in workflow.
• Create a rule for a workflow on page 127
• Edit a workflow on page 130
• Delete a workflow on page 131

Create a rule for a workflow

You can create rules for the check-in and check-out workflow by configuring conditions and notifications.

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Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

Step 1: Configure conditions for the check-in or check-out workflow

You must configure conditions for the check-in or check-out workflow. Only after you set the conditions, the request
will be sent to the approvers.
1. On Change Request Rules, select Check Out or Check In, and then select Create Rule.

2. In the Conditions tab, enter a name.

3. Select +And Another Condition.

4. In the Create a condition for type: Change Request dialog box, configure Attribute, Comparator, and
Value.
For example, you can set them as the following:
Attribute: Work Order Type
Comparator: equal to
Value: Check Out
5. Select OK.
6. (optional) To create more than one condition, select +And another Condition.
7. (optional) To create more than one group of conditions, select +Or add another group of Conditions.
8. Select Save.

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 Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

Step 2: Configure notifications

You can configure notifications to notify a user or a group of users when the check-in or check-out workflow starts.
1. Select the Notifications tab, and then select Require Approval.

2. In the Select a Group dialog box, select a group to approve the requests from users.
◦ To add a group, select Create New Group.
a. Enter the name of the new group.
b. Select the user for the new group from the dropdown list.
c. Select Save.
d. Select a Notification Method.
▪ Email notification sends the request weblink to users in the approvals group to approve or
reject the request. The request weblink is sent via email only. Email notification is also used
to notify the requestor of the request status.
▪ SMS alerts and reminds users that a request has been submitted and the status of a
request. The FactoryTalk AssetCentre server requires internet access for the SMS function.

If you do not configure an email or mobile number, an icon will appear next to the
notification symbol.
e. Select Apply.
◦ To customize the group, select Edit this Group, and then change the settings as needed. For how to
edit a new group, see Edit a workflow on page 130.
3. (optional) Configure additional settings to notify users of a request based on the rule.
◦ Require minimum from each group: Require a minimum number of users to approve a request.
◦ Renotify if no response: Renotify users by selecting a renotification interval.
◦ Notify Another: Add another group to get notified of a request.

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Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

4. (optional) Configure an escalation path to another group if there is no response.

a. Select Escalate to another group if no response.

b. Select the desired Escalation Interval, and then select Apply.

c. Select Require Approval.
i. Select an existing group from the dropdown or create a group.
ii. Select Notification Method.
iii. Select Apply.
d. Select Save.

Edit a workflow

You can edit an existing workflow. For example, add another condition, add another group of conditions, and so on.

To edit a workflow
1. On Change Request Rules, select Check Out or Check In.
2. Select Edit.

3. On Conditions, select Add another Condition or Or another group of Conditions.

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 Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

4. On Notifications:

◦ Select next to the AssetCentre Approvers box, and then select Edit.

a. Select Edit this Group to change some group settings.

i. Edit the following settings as needed.
▪ Change group names.
▪ Add a new user to the group.
▪ Remove a user from the group.
ii. Select Save.
iii. Change a Notification Method as needed.
iv. Select Apply.
b. Select Create New Group to create a group. For how to create a group, see Step 2 Configure
notifications on page 129.
◦ Configure the following additional settings to notify users of a request based on the rule.
▪ Check or clear Require minimum from each group.
▪ Check or clear Renotify if no response.
▪ Add Notify another.
▪ Add Escalate to another group if no response.
▪ Remove escalated group.

Delete a workflow

You can delete a workflow if it is no longer needed.

To delete a workflow
1. On MoC Change Request Rules, find the rule to be removed, and then select Edit.

2. Select Delete.

3. When the confirmation dialog box opens, select OK.

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Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

Change request rules configuration for checklists

A checklist is a list of steps used to confirm the completion of activities that must be completed before submitting
a check-out or a check-in request. Management of Change administrators can manage the checklists within the
Management of Change Admin webpage.

This section includes the following topics:

• Create a checklist on page 132
• Edit a checklist on page 134
• Delete a checklist on page 134

Create a checklist

You can create a checklist for a check-out or check-in workflow process.

To create a checklist
1. On Change Request Rules, select Check Out or Check In.
2. Select Configure Checklist, and then enter the name of the step group.

3. Select Add Step.

4. In the New Step dialog box, specify the following:

◦ Step Description
Enter the description for the step.
◦ Data Type
Select the display form for the step. You must configure the subitems based on the data type you
selected.

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 Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

◦ Add a File
Upload the attached file.
◦ Required
Set the steps as required.
◦ Default Value
Select the default value for the data type. Whether the default value exists depends on the data type
you select.
5. Select OK.
◦ To add additional steps, select Next Step.
◦ To duplicate the current step, select Copy to New Step.
6. The steps will appear under the new checklist. Review the checklist and select Save.

Tip:
◦ To create more than one-step group, select +Add Step Group.
◦ The next to the step indicates that the step has been defined as a required step.

When you initiate the Management of Change workflow, the steps of the checklist will show as the following:

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Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

Edit a checklist

You can edit an existing checklist. For example, change the step description and data type.

To edit a checklist
1. On Change Request Rules, select Check Out or Check In.

2. Hover over the step, select , and then select Edit.

Tip: You can also edit the Step Description by clicking the step shown in the check-out or
check-in process.

3. Edit the following items as needed, and then select OK.

◦ Step Description
◦ DataType
◦ Add a file
◦ Required
◦ Default Value
4. A yellow bar will appear next to the step that has been modified. Select Save.

Delete a step or checklist

You can delete a step from the checklist or delete the checklist.

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 Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

To delete a step
1. On Change Request Rules, select Check Out or Check In.

2. Hover over the step, select , and then select Delete.

3. When the confirmation dialog box opens, select OK.

4. Select Save.

To delete a checklist
1. Hover over the checklist, select , and then select Delete.

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Appendix A Working with Archive Management of Change website

2. When the confirmation dialog box opens, select OK.

3. Select Save.

For more information about the FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive Management of Change, see:
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Desktop Client Help > Archive
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive Management of Change FAQ
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive Management of Change Configuration Guide
• Configure FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive Management of Change service to use Service Account
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive Management of Change SQL Custom Password
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive Management of Change 21CFR Compliance
• FactoryTalk AssetCentre Design Considerations

136 FTAC-GR002J-EN-E - October 2024 Rockwell Automation, Inc.

 Legal Notices

Legal Notices
Rockwell Automation publishes legal notices, such as privacy policies, license agreements, trademark disclosures,
and other terms and conditions on the Legal Notices page of the Rockwell Automation website.

Software and Cloud Services Agreement

Review and accept the Rockwell Automation Software and Cloud Services Agreement here.

Open Source Software Licenses

The software included in this product contains copyrighted software that is licensed under one or more open source
licenses.

You can view a full list of all open source software used in this product and their corresponding licenses by opening
the oss_license.txt file located in your product's OPENSOURCE folder on your hard drive. This file is divided into these
sections:

• Components
Includes the name of the open source component, its version number, and the type of license.
• Copyright Text
Includes the name of the open source component, its version number, and the copyright declaration.
• Licenses
Includes the name of the license, the list of open source components citing the license, and the terms of the
license.

The default location of this file is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Rockwell\AssetCentre\ReleaseNotes\OPENSOURCE\oss_license.txt

For FactoryTalk AssetCentre Archive Extractor Utility, see its open source software and license information in the
CredentialManagement_license.txt file in the tool’s installation package.

For FactoryTalk AssetCentre Event Log Attachment Extractor Utility, see its open source software and license
information in <installation path>\Help\OPENSOURCE\CredentialManagement_license.txt.

You may obtain Corresponding Source code for open source packages included in this product from their respective
project web site(s). Alternatively, you may obtain complete Corresponding Source code by contacting Rockwell
Automation via the Contact form on the Rockwell Automation website: http://www.rockwellautomation.com/global/
about-us/contact/contact.page. Please include "Open Source" as part of the request text.

Commercial Software Licenses

This software also includes these commercially licensed software components:

Component Copyright

AG Grid 32.3.4 Copyright AG Grid Ltd. 2015-2024

Infragistics 23.1 Copyright 2024 INFRAGISTICS. All Rights Reserved

TallComponents.PDF.Layout.dll 3.0.62 Copyright 2001-2024 TallComponents BV. All rights reserved.

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Legal Notices

Component Copyright

TallComponents.PDF.Controls.WinForms.dll 2.0.114 Copyright 2001-2024 TallComponents BV. All rights reserved.

Other Third-Party Free Software Licenses

This software also includes these free software components:

Component Copyright

SQL Server Express LocalDB 2022 Copyright Microsoft. All rights reserved.

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 Copyright Microsoft. All rights reserved.

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